Value Of Real-time Elastosonography In Diagnosis Of Plantar Fasciitis

ObjectiveTo investigate the value of real-time ultrasound elastography in plantar fascia elasticity of patients when B-mode ultrasonography does not detect morphological changes in the fascia.MATERIALS AND METHODSInstitutional review board approval and patient consent given.42 foot of 36 patients with plantar fasciitis(patient group)and 48 foot of 24 healthy volunteers(control group)were rospectively evaluated.The maximum thickness of fascia was measured on two-dimensional ultrasonography.On the real-time ultrasound elasticity image,the fascia on elastography were evaluated to grade 1 to 3(blue 1,green 2,red 3)and the strain rate relative to the surrounding soft tissue was calculated.Comparison of the values of three methods in the diagnosis of plantar fasciitis.ResultsThe plantar fascia thickness?elasticity scores and strain ratio of the fascia were increased in the patient than in the control group(P<0.001).The sensitivity,specificity of fascial thickness measurement in two-dimensional ultrasonography were 64.3% and 91.7% respectively,the sensitivity,specificity and accuracy of strain rate method were 81% and83.3% respectively,the sensitivity,specificity of elasticity scoring method in real-time elastography ultrasound were 85.7% and 72.9% respectively.The sensitivity and specificity of the first two methods were statistically different(P<0.05),but the elasticity image scoring method has higher sensitivity and lower specificity than B-mode ultrasonography(P<0.05).ConclusionReal-time ultrasound elastography can clear display and quantify the the hardness variations of fascia in patients with plantar fasciitis,and it has important diagnostic value and can provide a diagnostic basis when B-mode ultrasonography cannot be clearly defined or early in plantar fasciitis.