Abstract
BACKGROUND: Managing heel spurs presents challenges due to multiple treatment options and varying patient satisfaction. This study was conducted to compare the results of heel spur treatment with corticosteroid injections and conservative treatments in patients with heel spurs. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study was conducted using convenience sampling on seventy patients with heel spurs in 2022. Among them, forty-four patients were in the treatment group, receiving local corticosteroid injections, and twenty-six patients were in the conservative treatment group. Data were collected using a checklist and analyzed using SPSS-26 statistical software. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were applied, with a significance level set at less than 0.05. RESULTS: The average age of patients with heel spurs was 43 ± 11.2 years. 88.6% of patients were female. Among forty-four individuals receiving corticosteroid injections, 18 (40.9%) experienced favorable outcomes. out of the twenty-six individuals undergoing conservative treatment, 8 (30.8%) also had favorable outcomes. No statistically significant difference was found between the two treatment approaches (P > 0.05). Among the sixty-two women studied, twenty-six experienced positive outcomes; 18 (69.2%) underwent corticosteroid injections, while 8 (30.8%) received conservative treatment. None of the men examined showed any impact from the treatment and expressed dissatisfaction with it. Statistically, a significant association exists between the treatment results of the two groups studied and the gender of patients with heel spurs (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The results highlight the importance of considering demographic factors, particularly gender, when selecting treatment strategies for heel spurs. Both corticosteroid injections and conservative treatments were effective in treating heel spurs; however, corticosteroid injections are recommended as the preferred option due to higher patient satisfaction. Longer follow-up periods are needed to confirm these findings and explore additional variables that may influence treatment efficacy. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Not applicable.