Calcaneal osteomyelitis following steroid injection for plantar fasciitis: a case report

This study reports a case of a 57-year-old woman diabetic patient who presented to the authors' institution with signs and symptoms typical of plantar fasciitis. Her condition did not resolve with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug therapy, podiatry, and physiotherapy input and she was given a steroid injection for treatment of plantar fasciitis. She was admitted to the hospital 17 days following injection with signs of acute infection. Diagnostic workup revealed an acute calcaneal osteomyelitis. Infection did not respond to conservative treatment and the patient required a partial calcanectomy. This case highlights the significant risk of steroid injection in plantar fasciitis, especially in diabetic patient. The authors urge surgeons to consider this when obtaining consent for injection and they advise very close follow-up of such patients.