Plantar fascia release is a surgical procedure to treat persistent plantar fasciitis (heel pain) by partially cutting the tight plantar fascia band on the sole of the foot to relieve tension.
A small incision is made on the inner side or sole of the heel. The plantar fascia is partially released (cut) to reduce the tension causing pain. Any bone spur may be removed, though the spur itself is rarely the cause of pain. The procedure takes approximately 20–30 minutes and is usually performed as a day case.
Surgery is considered when plantar fasciitis causes severe heel pain that has persisted for at least six to twelve months despite thorough non-operative treatment. Surgery is a last resort — the vast majority of patients (over 90%) improve without surgery.
Stretching exercises (calf and plantar fascia), supportive footwear, heel pads, orthotics, night splints, corticosteroid injection, shockwave therapy, and activity modification. These should all be exhausted before considering surgery.
Day-case procedure. Plan for limited weight-bearing for two to four weeks.
Surgery relieves heel pain in approximately 70–80% of carefully selected patients. Improvement may be gradual over weeks to months.
Not all patients achieve complete pain relief. Approximately 20–30% may have some residual symptoms.
The operative site may be tender for several weeks.
If too much fascia is released, the arch may flatten, altering foot mechanics.
Pain along the outer side of the foot due to altered loading.
Damage to small nerves causing numbness in the heel.
Wound infection.
Complete rupture leading to arch collapse.
Local, regional, or general anaesthesia.
A protective shoe or boot for two to four weeks. Gradual return to full weight-bearing. Stretching exercises continue. Return to normal activities at four to eight weeks. Full recovery may take three to six months.
Wound check at two weeks. Review at six weeks.
Because over 90% of patients with plantar fasciitis improve without surgery. Surgery is reserved for the small number of cases that do not respond to extensive non-operative treatment.
The spur may be removed, but research shows it is rarely the cause of pain. Pain comes from the inflamed fascia, not the spur itself.