A Study on Outcome of Surgical Treatment of Chronic Retrocalcaneal Bursitis

Retrocalcaneal bursitis is one of the important causes of posterior heel pain which is due to repetitive friction of the retrocalcaneal bursa between the postero-superior calcaneal tuberosity (haglund deformity) and Achilles tendon. Most of the patients are treated by conservative methods. But when the condition becomes chronic and not responding to the conservative treatment, surgical treatment is an option of these cases. This prospective interventional study was conducted in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, BSMMU (Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University), Dhaka, Bangladesh from September 2017 to August 2019. Within this period, total 40 cases of chronic retrocalcaneal bursitis were operated at BSMMU. The clinical and functional outcome was evaluated according to AOFAS (American Orthopedic Foot Ankle Society) scale. The results of this study showed significantly improvement of pain, functional status and deformity at the time of final follow-up period of 1 year, total mean score improved from 46/100 to 89/100. The outcome of the subjects was satisfactory 90% and unsatisfactory 10%. Surgical intervention is an effective option of treatment with satisfactory outcome, in the treatment of chronic retrocalcaneal bursitis.