Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this study is to analyze the clinical features of plantar fascia rupture. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 312 patients with plantar fasciitis between March 2008 and February 2013. We investigated age, sex, site, visual analogue scale (VAS), body mass index (BMI), characteristics of pain, awareness of rupture, and duration of symptoms. Acute rupture was defined as a rupture that occurred during exercise; chronic rupture was defined as a degenerative rupture after plantar fasciitis. We investigated the frequency of acute and chronic rupture. Results: Among 312 patients, 38 patients (12.2%) were diagnosed with plantar fascia rupture. Thirty-eight patients consisted of 14 men (36.8%) and 24 women (63.2%). The mean age of plantar fascia rupture was $58.29{\pm}12.54years$. The mean VAS score was 5.92 points (3~9 points). The mean BMI was $25.92{\pm}1.59kg/m^2$. Among the 38 patients, 2 patients had acute plantar fascia rupture and 36 had chronic plantar fascia rupture. In 34 patients-out of 36 chronic plantar fascia rupture, there were no subjective symptoms. Conclusion: Chronic rupture of the plantar fascia that occurred after plantar fasciitis was more common than acute rupture. Chronic rupture occurred at approximately 12% of patients treated with plantar fasciitis. In chronic rupture of the plantar fascia, there were no subjective symptoms of rupture. Therefore, we should doubt chronic rupture of plantar fascia when plantar fasciitis is prolonged.