Search

Purpose: We have investigated the role of sonography in the diagnosis of plantar fasciitis. Materials and methods: This study evaluates 39 patients with plantar fasciitis and control group of 22 healthy volunteers. The plantar fascia thickness was measured 5mm distal to the insertion of the calcaneus of plantar aponeurosis. Qualitative parameters such as decreased echogenity, biconvexity, perifascial fluid and calcification of plantar fascia were also noted. Results: Mean plantar fascia thickness was measured 2.9mm in patients with unilateral heel pain, 2.2mm for contralateral normal heel and 2.5mm for control group. There was a statistically significant difference between heel with plantar fasciitis, contralateral normal heel and control groups ( p =0.009 and 0.0001, respectively). Mean body mass index was 28kg/m 2 in patients with heel pain and 25kg/m 2 in control group. Body mass index measurements were significantly different between plantar fasciitis and control groups. We found reduced plantar fascia echogenity in 16 cases (41%), calcaneal spur in 20 cases (51%), biconvex appearance in two cases (5.1%) and perifascial fluid in one case (2.5%). Conclusion: We conclude that in patients with plantar fasciitis, ultrasound may detect relatively small differences in plantar fascia thickness even in clinically unequivocal plantar fasciitis.

Objective: The objective of the study was to investigate the relationship between age and renal resistive index (RI) and to determine the normal values and ranges of RI in intrarenal arteries in healthy children. Materials and method:Color duplex Doppler sonography of interlobar or arcuate arteries was performed in 115 children without clinical or laboratory pathologic changes of the urinary tract. Of these 115 healthy children, 23 were under 12 months of age (group 1), 24 between 12 and 35 months (group 2), 23 between 36 and 71 months (group 3), and 45 between 72 months and 16 years (group 4). Normative data for RI were established for each age group. Results: When age groups were compared, statistically significant differences were observed between age groups 1 and 2 ( P = 0.007), 1 and 3 (P = 0.00), 1 and 4 (P = 0.00) and 2 and 4 (P = 0.00). No significant differences were observed between age groups 2 and 3 ( P = 0.452), and 3a nd 4( P = 0.078). There was no significant difference between mean RI values of right and left kidney within any age group ( P = 0.315). Conclusion: Results obtained in this study demonstrates that RI is age dependent; it is the highest at birth, from birth declines gradually with increasing age and stabilizes in a certain range (mean RI range regarded as normal for adults) by reaching adult levels. © 2004 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.