Heel pain in children. Diagnosis and treatment

Heel pain in children is common, and its evaluation is challenging. Medical history and physical examination may be unrevealing owing to children's limited communication skills. Often, advanced laboratory and imaging studies are required to make an accurate diagnosis. The most common causes of heel pain in children are apophysitis, enthesopathy, and overuse syndromes such as tendinitis. Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is relatively uncommon. In very active children, occult fractures must also be evaluated. Pain unrelated to activity may indicate tumors, infection, or congenital problems. In general, heel pain in children is treated nonoperatively. For fractures in particular, children are less likely than adults to receive surgical treatment.