The calcaneal spur is an osteophyte that forms at the plantar fascia and intrinsic muscle origins on the medial calcaneal tuberosity, present in approximately 50 percent of patients with plantar fasciitis but also in 15 to 20 percent of asymptomatic individuals. Its presence does not directly cause plantar heel pain, the inflammation in the adjacent plantar fascia origin and periosteum causes the pain.
| Articulations |
|
|---|---|
| Landmarks |
|
| Ossification | Calcaneal spurs develop progressively from young adulthood through middle age as cumulative microtrauma stimulates periosteal bone deposition at the enthesis. |
The plantar calcaneal spur forms from repetitive microtrauma at the plantar fascia and short flexor muscle origins, with calcium deposition along the stressed fibres. Its presence on radiograph has poor correlation with heel pain severity. Many patients have spurs without symptoms and significant plantar fasciitis occurs without visible spurs. Extracorporeal shockwave therapy and plantar fascia stretching treat the enthesopathy regardless of spur presence. Surgical spur excision combined with plantar fasciotomy is occasionally performed for refractory cases.
Inflammation and degeneration of the plantar fascia origin near the spur, causing heel pain worst with the first steps in the morning.
Rarely, a large plantar spur fractures after a fall or impact, causing acute heel pain.
This website uses cookies to enhance your experience. Some are essential for site functionality, while others help us analyze and improve your usage experience. Please review your options and make your choice.
If you are under 16 years old, please ensure that you have received consent from your parent or guardian for any non-essential cookies.
Your privacy is important to us. You can adjust your cookie settings at any time. For more information about how we use data, please read our privacy policy. You may change your preferences at any time by clicking on the settings button below.
Note that if you choose to disable some types of cookies, it may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer.
Some required resources have been blocked, which can affect third-party services and may cause the site to not function properly.
This website uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience and ensure the site functions properly. By continuing to use this site, you acknowledge and accept our use of cookies.
