If all conservative, non-surgical treatments have failed, then surgery may be indicated for you. The EPF technique is a minimally invasive, endoscopic technique, which releases a portion of the tight plantar fascia. Dr. Barrett is the inventor of the technique US Patent #5269290, and has trained more than 5,000 surgeons throughout the world in the technique. There have been more than 1 million of these procedures performed since 1990, when the technique was developed.  This new method uses an endoscope which is a small instrument that allows the surgeon to see "anatomy" inside the body-when used in joints, it is called an "arthroscope". By using a very small incision, less than ½ inch, the new procedure releases the extreme tension on the plantar fascia which is the cause of the pain in the majority of cases. All of this is viewed on the television monitor by the surgeon. The procedure itself usually takes less than 10 minutes using a local anesthetic. A sterile dressing is worn for approximately 3 days and then the patient is usually allowed to return to regular shoe wear. Minimal loss of work is incurred.

With the older, traditional heel spur surgery, treatment requires a large surgical incision across the inner side of the heel and outpatient hospitalization. A painful recovery period of 4-6 weeks with a gradual return to soft shoes after 2-4 weeks is normal. Often, patients miss work for many weeks and are unable to bear weight on the heel during this time. It is important to note that most heel pain can be treated effectively without surgery. Treatment may include an anti-inflammatory medication, a tape strapping of the foot to take pressure off the ligament, and in-shoe support to redirect the pressure off the spur area.

Plantar Fasciitis FAQ
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