Outcomes of Gastrocnemius Recession in Patients with Plantar Fasciitis and Achilles Tendinosis: A Retrospective Study of 160 Patients

CATEGORY: Hindfoot INTRODUCTION/PURPOSE: Plantar fasciitis and achilles tendonopathy are two of the most common foot and ankle overuse conditions encountered in clinical practice. Several recent studies have shown isolated gastrocnemius recession to be a viable treatment option for these conditions when conservative management has failed. Patient outcomes have primarily been assessed through pain and functionality scores. While pain improvement and motion restoration are of utmost importance, plantar flexion power and endurance are also key to patients’ ability to return to everyday activities. Here, we assess patient outcome scores of individuals that underwent gastrocnemius recession for plantar fascitis and achilles tendonopathy to see if surgery was beneficial. METHODS: We reviewed 160 patients who underwent isolated gastrocnemius recession for chronic plantar fasciitis and achilles tendinopathy by a single surgeon from June 2011 to August 2018. Data was collected regarding patient pre-operative and post- operative pain scores at 3 months, 1 year, and final follow-up, and post-operative PROMIS physical function (PF), pain interference (PI), and depression (D) t-scores at final follow-up. We also collected data regarding time to full weight bearing, time to 50% and 100% pain relief, time to return to work, time to return to ADL, and time for patient to be out of boot. The patient population was then stratified by preoperative diagnosis and if patients received formal physical therapy. The cohorts consisted of patients that had plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinosis, or a combination of both. The other cohorts were patients that received formal physical therapy and those that did not receive physical therapy. RESULTS: The average preopeartive VAS score fot plantar fasciitis Achilles tendinosis and a combination of both was 4.27 4.10 and 4.93 respectively. For patients that had 3 month follow up (96) all three cohorts saw a decrease in VAS scores at 3 months (1.98, 1.50, and 1.80 respectively). Patients who received physical therapy saw a larger decrease in VAS scores (2.05 vs 1.03 respectively). Patients in all three groups were able to be fully weight baring within 30 days. 20.27 days in the plantar fasciitis, 19.25 for Achilles tendinopathy, and 28.3 days in the combination cohort. Patients with Achillis tendinosis had were able to get out of their boot the fastest (29.75 days). PROMIS scores were similar across all cohorts. CONCLUSION: This study is the first to complete a through evaluation of patient outcomes after gastrocnemius recession. Additionally, the study is one of the largest cohorts. This study helps to confirm that the surgery is beneficial for both plantar fasciitis and achilles tendinosis. In all cohorts patients pain improved with surgical intervention despite preoperative diagnosis and physical therapy status. Additionally, PROMIS scores across all of the patients were similar and did not indicate any signifcant decreases in physical function or increases in pain.