Autologous blood injection and botulinum toxin for resistant plantar fasciitis accompanied by spasticity.

Abstract

An originally ambulatory 18-yr-old woman with spastic left hemiplegic cerebral palsy developed left plantar fasciitis with a gradual loss of function requiring use of a wheelchair. Her symptoms were resistant to physical therapy. Two hundred units of botulinum toxin A was diluted in 4 mL of saline and injected into the gastrocnemius. Three milliliters of autologous blood was injected into the plantar fascia. She reported decreased pain at 3 days postinjection. At 10 days, she had no pain on walking. Dorsiflexion increased and Ashworth and Tardieu improved. A stretching program was taught and a better-fitting night splint was obtained. At 21 days, she exhibited no pain and increased dorsiflexion. Autologous blood injection combined with botulinum toxin A may be an alternative treatment for resistant plantar fasciitis accompanied by spasticity. Our hypothesis is that chronic plantar fasciitis is a degenerative condition and thus is relieved when a mild inflammatory process is created that leads to healing.