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Endoscopic Plantar
Fasciotomy (EPF)
Endoscopic plantar fasciotomy was
developed in the mid 1980's as an alternative to traditional heel spur
surgery. The logic of the EPF procedure was quite revolutionary at
the time. Traditional logic said that the heel spur was the
primary source of pain in heel spur syndrome. Subsequently, a
traumatic surgical resection of the spur was performed. The EPF
procedure changed that logic by proving that heel spur pain could be
eliminated with a simpler procedure, a plantar fasciotomy without resection of the
spur. As a result, EPF surgery rapidly became the standard of
care, replacing the older heel spur resection surgery.
Dr. Oster was one of the early pioneers
of endoscopic heel spur surgery and has taught many of his peers the EPF
technique.
EPF surgery is performed on an
out-patient basis at a surgery center or hospital. Local
anesthesia with sedation is the anesthesia of choice. The
procedure take less that 15 minutes to complete. Patients are able
to bear weight the same day. Patients return to regular shoes in
two days wearing a Band-Aid on either side of the heel.
The following are images of an
endoscopic heel spur surgery;

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