Annotated Bibliography
Results of Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy Peer Reviewed Research

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Articles addressing Outcomes and Complications related to surgery for Lateral Extensor Release
Summary: Surgical success was regarded as 76%. Complications included the development of infection, temporary loss of extension compared to normal, and recuperation away from work of a minimum of six weeks for 100% of the patients.

Verhaar, Jan, et al. "Lateral Extensor release for Tennis Elbow." The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Vol 75-A. No. 7 July 1993, 1034-1043.
Study type: Prospective Study
Purpose: Review of surgical release success
Results: Surgical success was regarded as 76%. Complications included the development of infection, temporary loss of extension compared to normal, and recuperation away from work of a minimum of six weeks for 100% of the patients.


Articles addressing Issues related to Non-Surgical Treatment for Plantar Fasciitis
Summary: Most treatments (many covered by Medicare) were found to be unpredictable or minimally effective. The ineffectiveness was especially true of steroid injections.

Gill, Lowell, Kiebzak, Gary. "Outcome of Non-surgical Treatment for Plantar Fasciitis." Foot & Ankle International, September 1996, Vol. 17, No 9, 527-532.
Study type: Prospective Study, no control, n=411 patients
Purpose: Ranking of effectiveness of various non-surgical treatment modalities
Results: Most treatments were found to be unpredictable or minimally effective. The ineffectiveness of non-surgical treatments is at variance with most published clinical studies


Joint Policy Statement

American Podiatric Medical Association and the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons
Statement: Based on a thorough review of the literature ESWT appears to be an efficacious, FDA approved non-surgical option in the treatment of chronic proximal plantar fasciitis


Articles addressing Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy for Chronic Plantar Fasciitis vs. Surgery
Summary: Outcome of ESWT for chronic Plantar Fasciitis is equal to a percutaneous Plantar Fasciitis surgery.

Weil Jr., Lowell Scott "Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) for the Treatment of Chronic Plantar Fasciitis: Indications, protocal and a Comparison of Results to Fasciotomy." Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery. Volume 41, Number 3, June 2002. 166-72.
Study type: Prospective Comparative
Results: 82% good to excellent results with a mean follow-up of 8.4 months after a single treatment of ESWT. There was 83% success for patients treated by a percutaneous plantar fasciotomy surgery.


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