[Evaluation of the effectiveness of the calcaneal spurs radiotherapy]

The radiotherapy results of 46 calcaneal spurs were analysed. Patients were irradiated using fraction dose of 1.0 Gy, 1.5 Gy or 2.0 Gy up to total dose of 2.0-22.5 Gy. All patients previously had chronic pain in the plantar region influencing possibility of walking and not reacting for conventional treatment. Whole group was periodically controlled after the treatment completion. The mean follow-up period was 12.5 months. The complete pain relief was observed in 9% cases one month after treatment and in 52% during the last control. The lack of analgetic effect was noted only in 3% cases as well one month after the treatment as during the last examination. Performed statistical analysis showed only inverse significant correlation between degree of pain relief six months after the treatment and duration of symptoms. Obtained results allow to form conclusion that radiotherapy of calcaneal spurs is easy, effective and safe way of analgetic treatment giving good results after low fraction and total delivered doses and that its efficacy depends on symptoms duration what is correlated to disease stage.