Biomaterial Database

Neurosensory testing of the medial calcaneal and medial plantar nerves in patients with plantar heel pain. 2003

Jonathan D Rose, and D Scot Malay, and Dean L Sorrento

Department of Podiatric Surgery, Ankle and Foot Medical Center, Presbyterian Medical Center, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia, PA, USA. jdrosedpm@hotmail.com

Eighty-two patients with a chief complaint of plantar heel pain were evaluated for sensory abnormalities within the cutaneous distribution of both the medial calcaneal nerve and the medial plantar nerve, using quantitative neurosensory testing with a pressure-specified sensory device. The results showed that 22.68% of the patients displayed isolated abnormal sensory function within the distribution of the medial calcaneal nerve, whereas 49.48% of the patients displayed abnormal function within the distribution of both the medial calcaneal and the medial plantar nerves. Thus, 72.17% of the patients displayed abnormal sensory function within the distribution of the medial calcaneal nerve. Statistical analysis of the results, using the Pearson chi-square statistic and odds ratio, indicated that a significant percentage of patients with plantar heel pain, even early in the clinical course of plantar heel pain, display abnormal sensibility within the branches of the posterior tibial nerve, and specifically, within the distribution of the medial calcaneal nerve (P <.0008) and the medial plantar nerve (P <.0001).

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D009408	Nerve Compression Syndromes	Mechanical compression of nerves or nerve roots from internal or external causes. These may result in a conduction block to nerve impulses (due to MYELIN SHEATH dysfunction) or axonal loss. The nerve and nerve sheath injuries may be caused by ISCHEMIA; INFLAMMATION; or a direct mechanical effect.	Entrapment Neuropathies,Nerve Entrapments,External Nerve Compression Syndromes,Internal Nerve Compression Syndromes,Nerve Compression Syndromes, External,Nerve Compression Syndromes, Internal,Compression Syndrome, Nerve,Compression Syndromes, Nerve,Entrapment, Nerve,Entrapments, Nerve,Nerve Compression Syndrome,Nerve Entrapment,Neuropathies, Entrapment,Neuropathy, Entrapment,Syndrome, Nerve Compression,Syndromes, Nerve Compression
D009460	Neurologic Examination	Assessment of sensory and motor responses and reflexes that is used to determine impairment of the nervous system.	Examination, Neurologic,Neurological Examination,Examination, Neurological,Examinations, Neurologic,Examinations, Neurological,Neurologic Examinations,Neurological Examinations
D010146	Pain	An unpleasant sensation induced by noxious stimuli which are detected by NERVE ENDINGS of NOCICEPTIVE NEURONS.	Suffering, Physical,Ache,Pain, Burning,Pain, Crushing,Pain, Migratory,Pain, Radiating,Pain, Splitting,Aches,Burning Pain,Burning Pains,Crushing Pain,Crushing Pains,Migratory Pain,Migratory Pains,Pains, Burning,Pains, Crushing,Pains, Migratory,Pains, Radiating,Pains, Splitting,Physical Suffering,Physical Sufferings,Radiating Pain,Radiating Pains,Splitting Pain,Splitting Pains,Sufferings, Physical
D011312	Pressure	A type of stress exerted uniformly in all directions. Its measure is the force exerted per unit area. (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 6th ed)	Pressures
D002111	Calcaneus	The largest of the TARSAL BONES which is situated at the lower and back part of the FOOT, forming the HEEL.	Heel Bone,Bone, Heel
D005260	Female		Females
D006365	Heel	The back (or posterior) of the foot in PRIMATES, found behind the ankle and distal to the toes.	Sinus Tarsi,Heels,Sinus Tarsus
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man