Bilateral Baxter's neuropathy secondary to plantar fasciitis

Baxter's neuropathy is a nerve entrapment syndrome that results from the compression of the inferior calcaneal nerve. The causes of Baxter's neuropathy include altered foot biomechanics such as flatfoot, plantar calcaneal enthesophytes, and plantar fasciitis. Baxter's neuropathy and causative pathologies such as plantar fasciitis can be identified with the help of typical MRI findings.

In this report, bilateral Baxter's neuropathy developed in a 42-year-old woman secondarily to bilateral plantar fasciitis. On MR images, fatty atrophy of the abductor digiti minimi muscles was found in both feet, revealing high-signal areas in the T1-weighted images and low-signal areas in the T2-weighted images. Additionally, findings of plantar fasciitis were observed in both feet.

To the authors' knowledge, no case of bilateral Baxter's neuropathy secondarily to plantar fasciitis has been reported. Baxter's neuropathy and causative disorders are easily recognized with help of typical MRI findings. Selective fatty atrophy of the abductor digiti minimi muscle is the unique sign of this neuropathy. Recognition of unique MRI findings of this rare condition that can cause heel pain are important since they provide an effective treatment plan.