The plantar calcaneal spur: a review of anatomy, histology, etiology and key associations

The plantar calcaneal spur (PCS) is a bony outgrowth from the calcaneal tuberosity and has been studied using various methods including cadavers, radiography, histology and surgery. However, there are currently a number of discrepancies in the literature regarding the anatomical relations, histologi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of anatomy 2017-06, Vol.230 (6), p.743-751
Main Authors: Kirkpatrick, Joshua, Yassaie, Omid, Mirjalili, Seyed Ali
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anatomy
Ankle
bony outgrowth
Cadavers
calcaneal tuberosity
Calcaneus
Calcaneus - diagnostic imaging
Calcaneus - pathology
Compression
Etiology
Fascia
Fascia - diagnostic imaging
Fascia - pathology
Fasciitis
Fasciitis, Plantar - diagnostic imaging
Fasciitis, Plantar - pathology
Feet
Heel Spur - diagnostic imaging
Heel Spur - etiology
Heel Spur - pathology
Histology
Humans
Inflammation
Muscles
Pain
plantar calcaneal spur
Radiography
Review
Reviews
Risk factors
Soft tissues
Surgery
Trauma
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Summary:The plantar calcaneal spur (PCS) is a bony outgrowth from the calcaneal tuberosity and has been studied using various methods including cadavers, radiography, histology and surgery. However, there are currently a number of discrepancies in the literature regarding the anatomical relations, histological descriptions and clinical associations of PCS. Historically, authors have described the intrinsic muscles of the foot and/or the plantar fascia as attaching to the PCS. In this article we review the relationship between the PCS and surrounding soft tissues as well as examining the histology of the PCS. We identify a number of key associations with PCS, including age, weight, gender, arthritides, plantar fasciitis and foot position; these factors may function as risk factors in PCS formation. The etiology of these spurs is a contentious issue and it has been explained through a number of theories including the degenerative, inflammatory, traction, repetitive trauma, bone‐formers and vertical compression theories. We review these and finish by looking clinically at the evidence that PCS causes heel pain.
ISSN:0021-8782
1469-7580
DOI:10.1111/joa.12607