Fibromyalgia & musculoskeletal pain
Association of Calcaneal Bone Marrow Lesions and Plantar Fascia Imaging Biomarkers With Chronic Plantar Heel Pain: A Case–Control Study
Authors' conclusion
Calcaneal BMLs and PF imaging biomarkers are associated with CPHP.
Study context
- Population
- Participants with chronic plantar heel pain and age- and sex-matched population controls
- Participants
- 218 vs 100
- Comparison
- Chronic plantar heel pain (CPHP) vs age- and sex-matched population controls
- CPHPn = 218
- Controlsn = 100reference
- Outcome
- Associations between CPHP and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and US imaging biomarkers (calcaneal BMLs, PF signal and thickness, spurs, fat pad signal; PF thickness, echogenicity and vascularity on US)
Methodological detailsage- and sex-matched population controls, multivariable conditional logistic regression
- Age- and sex-matched population controls
- Multivariable conditional logistic regression
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Imaging biomarkers independently associated with CPHP
CPHP vs ControlsEstimate (95% CI)
Plantar calcaneal BML size
OR 1.03 mm²(1.02–1.05)
Plantar spurs >5 mm
OR 2.15(1.13–4.10)
PF signal penetrating >50% of the dorsoplantar width
OR 12.12(5.36–27.42)
PF thickness on MRI
OR 3.23 mm(2.36–4.43)
PF thickness on US
OR 3.78 mm(2.69–5.32)
Diffusely hypoechoic PF
OR 7.89(4.02–15.48)
Focally hypoechoic PF
OR 24.92(9.60–64.69)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
PF vascularity (power Doppler US)
- PF vascularity uncommon, occurring exclusively in cases; cases with signal n = 47 [22%]
Original publication
Association of Calcaneal Bone Marrow Lesions and Plantar Fascia Imaging Biomarkers With Chronic Plantar Heel Pain: A Case–Control Study. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). Published 17 November 2022. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →