Percutaneous Ultrasonic Tenotomy for Patients with Plantar Fasciitis: A Retrospective Review

Background Plantar fasciitis is the leading cause of heel pain in adults. While many patients with plantar fasciitis are managed with conservative treatments, a subset of individuals require surgical intervention. This study aims to analyze the effectiveness of percutaneous ultrasonic tenotomy (PUT) in patients with plantar fasciitis. Methods A retrospective review was performed on patients who underwent surgical treatment with PUT for plantar fasciitis by two fellowship trained foot and ankle surgeons in an Orthopedic Surgery Department between May 2015 and April 2025. 22 patients who fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria were included in the study. Pre-operative and post-operative pain VAS scores were collected. We also retrieved additional patient variables including age, gender, body mass index (BMI), and length of follow-up time. Results Our results demonstrated a significant reduction in pain VAS scores from the pre-operative to the post-operative visit (p value <0.0001). 95% confidence intervals and Cohen’s d were further calculated to better assess the extent and certainty of PUT. The pre-operative VAS scores ranged from 6.38 to 8.62, while post-operative VAS scores ranged from 0.51 to 2.77. Cohen’s d was 2.17, indicating a large effect size and further supporting a statistically and clinically significant reduction in pain following PUT. The mean length of follow-up in our study was 9.7 months. Conclusion Overall, the findings of our study suggest that PUT is a safe and effective treatment option for plantar fasciitis, resulting in notable pain relief. The reduction in VAS pain scores, along with the large effect size observed, highlights the potential of PUT as an effective treatment for patients with plantar fasciitis refractory to conservative interventions.