BACKGROUNDCalcodynia is a persistent condition that podiatric surgeons frequently see among their patients, and plantar fasciitis is the main reason for pain. When systematic conservative treatments fail to alleviate these conditions, it requires surgical intervention, mainly plantar fascia release surgery, which used to be an open heel release surgery. This study aimed to investigate whether minimally invasive treatment of the KobyGard system is more safe and effective for plantar fasciitis.

METHODSFrom May 2009 to May 2012, a total of nine patients, three males and six females with plantar fasciitis, were treated in the Peking University People's Hospital with minimally invasive instruments, the KobyGard system, for the release of plantar fascia. Three patients, experiencing bilateral calcaneodynia, underwent bilateral surgery. One patient had bilateral calcaneodynia with enthesiopathy of Achilles tendon, and underwent Achilles tendon surgery. Preoperative and postoperative Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle and hindfoot scores, Roles and Maudsley scores and SF-36 questionnaires were evaluated.

RESULTSThe nine patients were successfully followed up. The average postoperative follow-up time was 13.2 months and it varied from 2.0 months to 21.0 months. Pre- and postoperative average scores of VAS was 9.3 and 1.9 (P < 0.001), respectively. Pre- and postoperative average scores of AOFAS hind foot was 36.0 and 82.0 (P < 0.001), respectively. There was also a statistically significant amelioration in SF-36 scores and the Roles and Maudlesy scores. Eight patients were satisfied with the surgery outcome.

CONCLUSIONMinimally invasive surgery treatment of the KobyGard system for plantar fasciitis has the advantages of shorter operation time, ease of operation, and similar satisfaction rates with open surgery, but with smaller surgical incision.