NCT07383558

Effect of Additional Sural Nerve PRF in Chronic Heel Pain

Does Targeting the Sural Nerve in Addition to the Posterior Tibial Nerve Increase the Effectiveness of Pulsed Radiofrequency Treatment in Chronic Plantar Heel Pain?

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: —
• Study type: Observational
• Enrollment: 48 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Diskapi Teaching and Research Hospital · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 65 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

This observational study aims to compare the effectiveness of pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) treatment applied to the posterior tibial nerve alone versus PRF applied to both the posterior tibial and sural nerves in patients with chronic plantar heel pain. Outcomes will be assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) hindfoot score at baseline, 1 month, and 3 months after treatment.

Detailed description

Chronic plantar heel pain is a common condition frequently managed with interventional pain procedures. In routine clinical practice, pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) is commonly applied to the posterior tibial nerve under ultrasound guidance. In selected patients, PRF is additionally applied to the sural nerve based on clinical judgment. This observational study includes patients who have already undergone PRF treatment as part of standard care in the Algology Clinic. Patients will not be randomized, and no modification to treatment plans will be made for study purposes. Patients will be divided into two groups: those who received PRF to the posterior tibial nerve alone, and those who received PRF to both the posterior tibial and sural nerves. Pain intensity and functional outcomes will be retrospectively evaluated and compared between groups.

Conditions

• Chronic Plantar Heel Pain
• Plantar Fasciitis
• Spur, Heel

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
PROCEDURE	Pulsed radiofrequency	Ultrasound-guided pulsed radiofrequency applied to the posterior tibial nerve, with or without additional application to the sural nerve.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-06-01
• Primary completion: 2026-05-01
• Completion: 2026-09-01
• First posted: 2026-02-03
• Last updated: 2026-02-25

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Turkey (Türkiye)