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What Does "right Calcaneal Spur" In An X-ray Mean?
Question: Hi my 36 yr old daughter has been complaining about the pain in her foot for over a year. She has been sent for an xray and has got the followin:
There is a right calcaneal spur. Posrteriorly at the subtalar joint there are multiple calcific densities which raise possibility of osteochondromatosis or atarsal coalilion. Specialist review with a view to further imaging is suggested.
She has taken the result to her GP who told her he didn't know what it meant as he is not a specialist.
He gave her a list of hospitals and told her to book herself an appointment! ?
She googled some of the words in the report and now she thinks she has got cancer!
Please explain what the report means!
Thank you so much in advance
MRS XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
There is a right calcaneal spur. Posrteriorly at the subtalar joint there are multiple calcific densities which raise possibility of osteochondromatosis or atarsal coalilion. Specialist review with a view to further imaging is suggested.
She has taken the result to her GP who told her he didn't know what it meant as he is not a specialist.
He gave her a list of hospitals and told her to book herself an appointment! ?
She googled some of the words in the report and now she thinks she has got cancer!
Please explain what the report means!
Thank you so much in advance
MRS XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
She does not have cancer
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I have studied your x ray reports and I can assure you that your daughter does not has cancer. Let me explain you her x rays.
1.Calcaneal spur is bone spike coming out of the heel bone, it can be present since birth and it causes pain, mostly on walking, more in morning.
2.Subtalar joint densities are also common, it can be present since birth also. It suggest that her foot anatomy was not normal since birth and it is causing her pain. She might be having flat foot also.
So my suggestion is that :
1.She need to get a CT scan of the foot to confirm if there is some fusion of the bone in the joint.
2. Shoe modification, she needs to wear silicone insole inside of the shoe so bone growth does not hurt her.
3. Steroid injection in the heel also help in such pain. If one injection is already given as you told then another can be repeated after 3 months.
4. Last option is surgery where we shave the spur so that inflammation does not progress.
I hope these measures will help her. Let me know if there is any other followup questions is there.
Thanks.
She does not have cancer
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I have studied your x ray reports and I can assure you that your daughter does not has cancer. Let me explain you her x rays.
1.Calcaneal spur is bone spike coming out of the heel bone, it can be present since birth and it causes pain, mostly on walking, more in morning.
2.Subtalar joint densities are also common, it can be present since birth also. It suggest that her foot anatomy was not normal since birth and it is causing her pain. She might be having flat foot also.
So my suggestion is that :
1.She need to get a CT scan of the foot to confirm if there is some fusion of the bone in the joint.
2. Shoe modification, she needs to wear silicone insole inside of the shoe so bone growth does not hurt her.
3. Steroid injection in the heel also help in such pain. If one injection is already given as you told then another can be repeated after 3 months.
4. Last option is surgery where we shave the spur so that inflammation does not progress.
I hope these measures will help her. Let me know if there is any other followup questions is there.
Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Thank you for that reply Dr XXXXXXX I have just read it to her. However she still is not convinced. She is going to try to book an earliest possible hospital appointment available tomorrow.
Once again thank you XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
Once again thank you XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Do not be afraid .
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I understand her anxiety. Internet does not give us proper information. This is the reason we have been part of Health care magic . We provide authentic and complete information. If she wants to ask any other question, I will be more then happy to answer that.
She can confirm these facts with her doctors.
Thanks.
Do not be afraid .
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I understand her anxiety. Internet does not give us proper information. This is the reason we have been part of Health care magic . We provide authentic and complete information. If she wants to ask any other question, I will be more then happy to answer that.
She can confirm these facts with her doctors.
Thanks.
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Answered by
Dr. Dr. Naveen Kumar Sharma
Orthopaedic Surgeon, Joint Replacement
Practicing since :2002
Answered : 4486 Questions
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