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NCT Number: NCT07383558

Effect of Additional Sural Nerve PRF in Chronic Heel Pain

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.

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Key information

Conditions

Chronic Plantar Heel Pain Bone Diseases Exostoses Fasciitis Fasciitis, Plantar Foot Diseases Heel Spur Hyperostosis Musculoskeletal Diseases Plantar Fasciitis Spur, Heel

Age range

18 year–65 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

Ayse Betul Acar

Ankara, 06500, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

Omer Taylan Akkaya

CONTACT

[email protected]

05325569847

About this study

This prospective observational cohort study evaluates whether the addition of sural nerve pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) to posterior tibial nerve PRF is associated with greater clinical improvement in patients with chronic plantar heel pain. In routine clinical practice, ultrasound-guided PRF is applied to the posterior tibial nerve, and in selected patients, additional PRF of the sural nerve is performed based on clinical judgment.

Patients are prospectively followed in two groups according to the treatment received: posterior tibial nerve PRF alone and posterior tibial nerve PRF combined with sural nerve PRF. Clinical outcomes are assessed at baseline and at 1 and 3 months after the procedure. Pain intensity is evaluated using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and functional outcome is assessed using the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) hindfoot score. Changes in these outcomes are compared between the two groups during the follow-up period.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Age between 18 and 65 years

Presence of chronic plantar heel pain

Baseline VAS score >5

Exclusion criteria

History of foot fracture or tumor

Pregnancy

Coagulopathy or use of antiplatelet therapy

Cognitive impairment preventing informed consent

Treatment and study plan

pulsed radiofrequency

Procedure

Ultrasound-guided pulsed radiofrequency applied to the posterior tibial nerve, with or without additional application to the sural nerve.

Primary outcomes

  1. VAS

    Time frame: Baseline, 1 month, and 3 months post-procedure

    Visual Analog Scale (VAS) is a simple tool used in clinical trials to measure pain intensity. Patients rate their pain on a scale, typically from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst imaginable pain). It provides a quick, quantitative assessment of subjective pain and is commonly used to evaluate treatment effectiveness before and after intervention.Change in pain intensity assessed by Visual Analog Scale (VAS)

Secondary outcomes

  1. AOFAS

    Time frame: Baseline, 1 month, and 3 months post-procedure

    American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score is a clinical outcome measure used to assess foot and ankle conditions. It combines pain (40 points), function (50 points), and alignment (10 points) into a total score out of 100. Higher scores indicate better clinical status. It is frequently used in clinical trials to evaluate surgical or conservative treatment outcomes.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Diskapi Teaching and Research Hospital

Other

Registry information

Official study title

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

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Feb 3, 2026
Registry last updated
Aug 17, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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