Clinical aspects of bursae and tendon sheaths of the foot

The evaluation and treatment of bursitis in the foot is a complex problem for the clinician. There is no one standard approach or set treatment for the patient who presents with pain suspected of being secondary to bursal involvement, primarily because there are myriad conditions and anatomical sites involved. Compounding this problem is the wide variation in the presence of these structures from patient to patient. Therefore, each distinct pathologic situation must be examined, diagnosed, and treated, based on its individual anatomical and etiologic factors. In the interest of completeness, the special anatomy of bursae and their specific pathologic conditions are reviewed.