Gastrocnemius Release in the Management of Chronic Plantar Fasciitis: A Systematic Review

Zaki Arshad, Aiman Aslam, Mohammad A Razzaq, Maneesh Bhatia, Zaki Arshad, Aiman Aslam, Mohammad A Razzaq, Maneesh Bhatia

Abstract

Background: This systematic review aims to summarize the outcomes of gastrocnemius recession in the treatment of plantar fasciitis.

Methods: A systematic review was performed according to PRISMA guidelines using the PubMed, Embase, Emcare, Web of Science, Scopus, and CINAHL databases. A 2-stage title/abstract and full text screening process was performed independently by 2 reviewers. Randomized controlled trials, cohort, and case-control studies reporting the results of gastrocnemius recession in patients with plantar fasciitis were included. The MINORS and Joanna Briggs Institute Criteria were used to assess study quality and risk of bias.

Results: A total of 285 articles were identified, with 6 of these studies comprising 118 patients being ultimately included. Significant postoperative improvement in American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society, visual analog scale, 36-Item Short Form Health Survey, Foot Forum Index, and Foot and Ankle Ability Measure scores were reported. Included studies also described an increase in ankle dorsiflexion range of motion and plantarflexion power. An overall pooled complication rate of 8.5% was seen, with persistent postoperative pain accounting for the most common reported complication. Gastrocnemius recession is associated with greater postoperative improvement than plantar fasciotomy and conservative stretching exercises.

Conclusion: The current evidence demonstrates that gastrocnemius recession is effective in the management of plantar fasciitis, specifically in patients with gastrocnemius contracture who do not respond to conservative treatment.

Level of evidence: Level III, Systematic review of level I-III studies.

Keywords: gastrocnemius lengthening; gastrocnemius recession; plantar fasciitis; systematic review.

Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Conflicting Interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. ICMJE forms for all authors are available online.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
PRISMA flow diagram showing the number of studies retrieved and excluded at both screening stages.

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Source: PubMed

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