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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

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.

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
Feb 25, 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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