The Haglund syndrome: initial and differential diagnosis

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Radiology
• Podiatry

Background:

• Haglund syndrome causes posterior heel pain due to soft-tissue swelling near the Achilles tendon insertion.
• Radiographic findings include prominent calcaneal bursal projection, retrocalcaneal bursitis, and Achilles tendon thickening.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the prominence of the calcaneal bursal projection using the parallel pitch lines measurement.
• To establish an objective method for diagnosing Haglund syndrome and identifying predisposed individuals.
• To differentiate local from systemic causes of posterior heel pain.

Main Methods:

• Measurement of the parallel pitch lines on lateral heel radiographs.
• Comparison of measurements between symptomatic feet (n=10) and control feet (n=78).
• Statistical analysis of the collected data.

Main Results:

• The parallel pitch line measurement provides an objective assessment of calcaneal bursal projection.
• This method can help identify patients with Haglund syndrome.
• It aids in differentiating posterior heel pain etiologies.

Conclusions:

• The parallel pitch line measurement is a valuable tool for diagnosing Haglund syndrome.
• This objective method assists in identifying patients at risk for developing Haglund syndrome.
• It aids clinicians in distinguishing between local and systemic causes of posterior heel pain.