Enthesopathy of the lateral cord of the plantar fascia

Douglas F. Hoffman, Levon N. Nazarian, Jay Smith

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

The objective of this study was to raise awareness of the diagnosis of enthesopathy of the lateral cord of the plantar fascia (LCPF) and describe its sonographic findings. We conducted a retrospective case series of 13 sonographic examinations with the diagnosis of LCPF enthesopathy. Two cadaver dissections of the plantar foot were performed for anatomic correlation. Sonographic findings of LCPF enthesopathy included generalized or focal hypoechoic thickening, loss of the normal fibrillar echo texture, cortical irregularity of the fifth metatarsal tuberosity, and vascularity on color Doppler imaging. Anatomic dissections of the plantar foot detailed the course of the LCPF and served as a guide for optimal sonographic imaging. Enthesopathy of the LCPF is an important etiology of nontraumatic pain at the base of the fifth metatarsal. Sonographic evaluation can readily show the characteristic findings of LCPF enthesopathy.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1711-1716
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Ultrasound in Medicine
Volume33
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 1 2014

Keywords

  • Enthesopathy
  • Lateral cord of the plantar fascia
  • Musculoskeletal ultrasound

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Radiological and Ultrasound Technology
  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging

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