12 Cases of Haglund's Syndrome Detected through MRI

Shuwei Zhou1,2, Wuxing Luo1, Siyu Wang1

  • 1Department of Radiology, The First Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, 95 Shaoshan Middle Road, Yuhua District, Changsha 410007, P.R. China.

Insights

Haglund's syndrome, a cause of heel pain, is often diagnosed using Magnetic Resonance (MR) imaging. MR reveals calcaneal bone edema, Achilles tendon issues, and bursitis, aiding clinical diagnosis.

Area of Science:

  • Radiology
  • Orthopedics
  • Medical Imaging

Background:

  • Haglund's syndrome is a frequent cause of heel pain, often overlooked clinically.
  • It involves impingement of the calcaneus, bursa, and Achilles tendon, making clinical diagnosis challenging.
  • Medical imaging is crucial for accurate diagnosis of Haglund's syndrome.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To summarize the Magnetic Resonance (MR) imaging characteristics of Haglund's syndrome.
  • To provide a reference for clinical diagnosis and management of Haglund's syndrome.
  • To correlate imaging findings with clinical presentation.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of MR images from 11 clinically confirmed Haglund's syndrome patients.
  • Evaluation of morphological changes in the calcaneus and talus.
  • Assessment of calcaneal signal, Achilles tendon status, and surrounding soft tissues.

Main Results:

  • All 12 ankles exhibited calcaneal posterosuperior prominence and Achilles tendon degeneration.
  • Bone marrow edema was present in 7 ankles.
  • Findings included Achilles tendinosis (6 ankles), partial Achilles tendon tears (5 ankles), retrocalcaneal bursitis (12 ankles), retro-Achilles bursitis (7 ankles), and Kager's fat pad edema (6 ankles).

Conclusions:

  • MR imaging is valuable for diagnosing Haglund's syndrome.
  • Key MR findings include calcaneal bone edema, Achilles tendon degeneration/tear, bursitis, and Kager's fat pad edema.
  • These imaging features aid in distinguishing Haglund's syndrome from other heel pain causes.
Abstract