Plantar fasciopathy and orthotripsy: the effect of prior cortisone injection

BACKGROUND: Corticoid steroid injection into the heel is a popular treatment method for painful heel syndromes. However, the positive results usually are short term. Extracorporeal shock wave treatment (ESW) has been shown to have a more permanent effect. We evaluated 555 patients who received ESW using the device Ossa Tron Orthotripsy (Health Tronics, Surgical Services, Marietta, GA) relative to antecedent cortisone heel injection. METHODS: Before ESW, 312 patients (56%) received one or more cortisone injections into the heel, and 243 patients (44%) had never received a cortisone injection. RESULTS: Two hundred and thirty-four patients (75%) who had antecedent injection or injections had positive outcomes after ESW. One hundred sixty-eight patients (69%) without prior heel injection had positive responses after ESW. CONCLUSION: The prior injection of cortisone did not affect the likelihood of a positive response to ESW. Similarly, the absence of prior injection of cortisone did not affect the outcome.