New Procedure introduced in Air Force podiatric surgery

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Erin M. Peterson
  • 59th Medical Wing Public Affairs
LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFPN) --  Medical specialists in the 59th Orthopedic and Rehabilitation Squadron at Wilford Hall Medical Center here are introducing a new procedure in the podiatric surgery department. The procedure, Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy, or ESWT, is a form of treatment for chronic plantar fasciitis.

Chronic plantar fasciitis, a form of severe heel pain, is a condition caused by excessive wear to the plantar fascia of the foot. The pain is usually felt on the underside of the heel and is associated with extended periods of supporting weight, increased activities, or foot/ankle deformities.

Severe plantar fasciitis is common in patients ages 30 to 55. Although rare for those in a younger demographic, it can be present at any age.

According to Capt. Hjalmar Contreras, chief of podiatric surgery at Wilford Hall, severe heel pain is the number one complaint in podiatry.

The new non-invasive procedure cuts recovery time by 70 percent and replaces the previous surgical method, which required an incision to be made in the heel and a portion of the fascia to be removed or cut.

The previous procedure involved a recovery time of approximately three months, and the surgery involved a risk of a non-healing wound, nerve injury, infection, bleeding and the destabilization of the foot.

With ESWT, the patient is sedated and a local anesthesia block is placed in the foot. Pulses of high-pressure audible sound waves are then generated, specifically concentrated to a small number of areas.

Captain Contreras, who was certified to perform the procedure in the civilian sector in 2001, emphasizes the convenience of the new method, because of the rapid healing time.

"As the Air Force continues to stress the importance of physical fitness, it is vital to implement the latest procedures with minimal healing time requirements," said Captain Contreras. "Keeping airmen mission-ready is our main concern." 

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