Surgical Management of Refra Ctory Retro - Calcaneal Bursitis Evaluation of Its Results

Abstract

CONTEXT: Heel pain is common in middle and elderly people due various causes. BACKGROUND: Retrocalcaneal bursitis may not respond for medical treatment and may need surgery for relief of pain. AIM: To study the results of surgical treatment in Retrocalcaneal bursitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS:The patients with refractory retrocalcaneal bursitis were taken up for the study. inclusion criteria is pain, swelling over postero superior aspect of the heel not responding to conservative treatment like heat, analgesics and local steroids. The only contraindication was uncontrolled diabetes. X-ray of heel lateral view was taken in all patients and prominence of posterio superior part was assessed. Pre and postoperatively the foot were assessed hy Ankle and foot scale. Through lateral incision the prominent bony prominence and retrocalcaneal bursa was excised. RESULTS: 25 patients with refractory retrocalcaneal bursitis underwent surgery. 15 males and 10 females with mean age of 46 years and mean duration for symptioms of one year and eight months and mean fallow up period of one year and one month. The pre-operative ankle and foot scale score was 37 to 43 points with a median of 41 points. Post-operative score was 76 to 83 with a median of 81 points. 20 patients (80%) had complete relief of symptoms. Four patents (16%) had minimal pain after long walking. One patient had moderate pain restricting his daily activities (4%). CONCLUSIONS: surgical excision of prominent spur along with retrocalcaneal bursa gives good result.