Transarterial Embolization to Improve Plantar Heel Pain: 6-Month Results from a Prospective Case Series

To investigate the effectiveness of transarterial embolization (TAE) for recalcitrant plantar heel pain (PHP).

In this prospective case series, 24 people with chronic PHP received TAE. Participants had previously undergone alternate treatments without a satisfactory response. Participants were assessed at baseline and at 1 and 6 months following the procedure. The primary outcome was the proportion of responders at 6 months following treatment. A responder was defined as having improved pain, function, and/or global assessment according to a modified Outcome Measures in Rheumatology-Osteoarthritis Research Society International responder criteria. Secondary outcomes included adverse events, technical success (ability to identify and embolize neovessels), and change in self-reported pain, function, and quality of life at 1 and 6 months using the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS).

Seventeen participants (70.8%) were responders at 6 months following TAE. No adverse events occurred. Median FAOS pain scores improved by 54.5% at 1 month and 70.5% at 6 months. Function in daily living and sports and recreation subscale scores improved between 67.4% and 100.0% at 1 and 6 months. Quality-of-life scores improved 100.0% and 152.0% at 1 and 6 months, respectively.

Notwithstanding the limitations inherent to a case series study, the results provide preliminary evidence that TAE might be an effective treatment option for people with recalcitrant PHP. Further evaluation of this technique is warranted.