Purpose Plantar fasciitis is a very common (lifetime incidence ~ 10%) and long-lasting injury with major impact on daily function. Combining corticosteroid injection and physical training (strength training and stretching) was hypothesized to result in a superior efect compared to each treatment separately. Methods A single blinded randomized controlled superiority trial conducted in 2013-2014 with a 2-year follow-up (end Sept 2016). 123 consecutive patients (20-65 years) referred to two study centers

Purpose Plantar fasciitis is a frequent and painful condition with a lifetime incidence of 10%. Good results have been reported for operative treatment of plantar fasciitis refractory to non-surgical interventions in uncontrolled studies. The aim of this study was to compare the results of operative treatment (endoscopic debridement, removal of the heel spur and partial resection of the plantar fascia) with those of a controlled and supervised non-operative rehabilitation program. Methods Thirty consecutive patients with plantar fasciitis during more than 3 months were randomized to either (1) nonoperative treatment with corticosteroid injections and a controlled strength training program or (2) an endoscopic 2-incision operation with partial fasciotomy and heel spur removal followed by the same strength training program. Patients were evaluated at entry and 3, 6, 12 and 24 months post-operatively with the foot function index (FFI) and pain score during activity on a 100 mm VAS scale (VAS activity). FFI at 6 and 12 months was defined a priori as primary endpoint. Results Both groups improved significantly over time. The FFI score was significantly better in the operated group compared to the non-surgically treated group 12 months post-operatively (p = 0.033), at 24 months this was, however, not significant (p = 0.06). VAS activity at 24 months was significantly (p = 0.001) in favor of the operative group. More patients returned to running and jumping in the operative group (p = 0.04). Conclusion This randomized controlled trial found significant and clinically relevant superior results for the operative treatment of plantar fasciitis as measured by Foot Function Index at 1 year and by VAS activity at 2-year follow-up when compared to the results of a supervised rehabilitation program. Level of evidence I.

No abstract

Purpose To investigate if patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), functional tests and clinical measures correlate well in children after reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). It was hypothesized that these outcomes correlate, so it is suicient to report only one of them. Methods A consecutive group of children (< 16 years old) who had an ACL reconstruction, were prospectively followed and assessed after 1-year with Pedi-IKDC and KOOS-Child, instrumented laxity measurement, range of motion, extension strength and four performance tests. Relations between the diferent outcomes were calculated by partial correlation coeficient analysis, controlling for gender, age, height, and weight. Results Outcomes were available for 141 of 163 children. There were only few positive and weak correlations between performance tests and PROM scores and between clinical measurements and PROM scores. There were weak to strong correlations between the scores from Pedi-IKDC and the scores from each of the ive domains of KOOS-Child and a weak to moderate correlation between the diferent domains of KOOS-Child. Similar correlations were found between the diferent performance tests. Conclusion For children who had their ACL reconstructed there was no clinically important correlation between scores obtained by PROMs, a battery of functional performance tests and instrumented laxity of the knee at 1-year follow-up. This is an argument for always to include and report all three types of outcomes. Level of evidence Level II.