Magnetic resonance imaging in the evaluation of heel pain.

Abstract

This study demonstrates magnetic resonance findings in 16 patients (25 heels) with heel pain. Sixteen of 25 (64%) studies demonstrated abnormalities which could be related to the etiology of their heel pain. Eleven of 16 abnormal scans demonstrated thickening of the plantar aponeurosis with associated fibrosis (7 of 11), and a tear of the flexor digitorum brevis (1 of 11). One study demonstrated changes in the heel pad consistent with fluid. The other four abnormal studies demonstrated changes thought to be consistent with bilateral fibrous calcaneonavicular coalitions, subtalar arthrosis and tenosynovitis of the posterior tibial, flexor digitorum longus, and flexor hallucis longus tendons.