Journal de recherche médico-légale

The Efficacy of the Combined Ultrasound Therapy with 5% Lidocaine Medicated Patch for the Management of Plantar Fascia Tendinopathy

Abstract

G Panoutsopoulos, A Mitseas, D Panidis, K Tzirogiannis, Maria Polikandrioti, Ariadni M Dede, Danai A Mitsea, V Dedes

Therapeutic ultrasound has been routinely used to treat tendinopathies, including plantar fascia tendinopathy. The 5% lidocaine patch is designed as a targeted peripheral analgesic to treat postherpetic neuralgia, osteoarthritis, low back pain, myofascial pain syndrome, and diabetic polyneuropathy. The present study aimed to investigate if the addition of 5% lidocaine patches between the therapeutic ultrasound sessions could improve analgesia in people suffering from plantar fascia tendinopathy. Eighty-two patients with plantar fascia tendinopathy received therapeutic ultrasound combined with 5% lidocaine patches between sessions, and fifty-six patients received therapeutic ultrasound alone. The pain intensity and functional and quality of life impairments were evaluated by the self-administered “UoP-PFQ” questionnaire pre-treatment, post-treatment, and at the 4-week follow-up. Pain intensity, functionality and quality of life impairments were significantly reduced in both the combined group with therapeutic ultrasound and 5% lidocaine patches and the ultrasound group. However, the reduction was more pronounced in the combined group in all parameters pre-treatment, post-treatment, and at the 4-week follow-up. Although both ultrasound and combined therapies were effective in patients with plantar fascia tendinopathy, the statistical analysis showed that the addition of 5%lidocaine patches between the ultrasound treatments could cause a further reduction in pain intensity and improve the functionality and quality of life