[Low-dose radiotherapy in the treatment of plantar fasciitis].

Backgrounds: To evaluate the analgesic effect of low-dose radiotherapy in the treatment of plantar fasciitis and to analyse prognostic factors.

Patients And Methods: Retrospective analysis was used in the assessment of the analgesic effect after the 1st and 2nd series of low-dose radiotherapy. The treatment regime of 273 patients included total dose of 4.0 Gy, with fraction dose 1.0 Gy, received 2-3 times a week. Recommended follow-up was 3 months. In 323 cases of plantar fasciitis, prognostic factors (age, sex and pain duration before treatment) were evaluated.

Results: Analgesic effect of total dose of 4.0 Gy was 55.7% after the 1st series and 74.8% after the 2nd series. The results are comparable to published results. Pain duration before treatment shorter than 6 months had a significant effect on the treatment. Age was also a significant prognostic factor, with benefits in the group of patients younger than 50 years.

Conclusion: Results confirm the advantageous analgesic effect of the dose regime received by our group of 273 patients. Analysis of prognostic factors shows greater benefit of treatment in the acute stage of plantar fasciitis. When treating young patients, however, the possible risks of radiotherapy should be considered compared to other treatment modalities.