Evaluation of plantar fascia thickness in Egyptian patients with spondyloarthropathy

Abstract

Purpose To measure plantar fascia (PF) thickness in Egyptian patients with spondyloarthropathy (SpA) using high-resolution musculoskeletal ultrasound and to assess its relationship with age, sex, BMI, and clinical and laboratory parameters of disease activity. Patients and methods PF thickness was measured in 50 patients with SpA (diagnosis based on Amor criteria), in addition to 100 healthy volunteers as a control group, using 7–13-MHz linear array transducer. Results The mean PF thickness in patients with SpA was 5.17±1.25 mm, whereas it was 3.06±0.65 mm in the control group, with significant difference (P Conclusion SpA is frequently associated with plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis in patients with SpA may be clinically asymptomatic and early diagnosed with ultrasonography. PF mean thickness was found to be more than 4 mm in most patients with SpA. Its thickness is associated with disease activity and functional impairment.