Background/Objectives: Infrared thermography is an advanced technique that detects infrared light emitted by the body to map thermal changes related to blood flow. It is recognized for being noninvasive, fast, and reliable and is employed in the diagnosis and prevention of various medical conditions. In podiatry, it is utilized for managing diabetic foot ulcers, musculoskeletal injuries such as Achilles tendinopathy, and onychomycosis, among others. The primary objective is to analyze the application of thermography in podiatry as a diagnostic evaluation tool. Secondary objectives include evaluating the use of thermography in diagnosing musculoskeletal injuries, determining its role in preventing diabetic foot ulcers and onychomycosis, assessing its utility in sports performance evaluation with plantar orthoses, and reviewing its cost-effectiveness in detecting common foot conditions and deformities. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the existing literature on the use of thermography in podiatry were conducted. Studies addressing various applications of thermography were included, focusing on its effectiveness, sensitivity, and specificity. Both studies comparing plantar temperature before and after interventions with orthoses and those exploring thermography in diagnosing specific pathologies were analyzed. Results: Ten randomized clinical trials on the use of infrared thermography in podiatric conditions were included, with participant ages ranging from 18 to 80 years (n = 10–223). Treatments for Achilles tendinopathy, diabetic foot ulcers, and peripheral arterial disease were explored. Infrared thermography was utilized to measure thermal changes, evaluate plantar orthoses, and diagnose onychomycosis. The findings underscore the potential of infrared thermography in preventing and diagnosing various podiatric pathologies. Conclusions: Infrared thermography is a noninvasive technique in podiatry that provides real-time imaging without radiation. It is useful for detecting musculoskeletal injuries, diabetic skin ulcers, and onychomycosis and contributes to enhancing sports performance. In conclusion, it is a valuable tool in podiatric practice to optimize therapeutic approaches.

Background: Plantar fascitis is a common cause of heel pain in adults. Although various conservative treatments have been studied, comparative real-world effectiveness remains underreported. Objective: To retrospectively evaluate and compare the clinical effectiveness of percutaneous neuromodulation, extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT), and custom foot orthoses in patients with plantar fasciitis. Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted from January 2020 to December 2023 at a podiatric clinic. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied to medical records, and 120 patients were divided into three groups according to treatment, with 7 patients excluded due to non-compliance with follow-up. Pain intensity (VAS) and functional improvement (FFI) were assessed at baseline, 1 month, and 6 months post-treatment. Statistical analysis included paired t-tests, ANOVA, effect size (Cohen’s d), and 95% confidence intervals. The STROBE checklist was followed. Results: All three interventions showed significant improvement in pain and function at 6 months (p < 0.05). Neuromodulation achieved the highest pain reduction (VAS mean difference −6.2, d = 1.02), followed by ESWT (d = 0.78) and orthoses (d = 0.65). Functional scores improved similarly across all groups, with no significant difference at 6 months (p = 0.12). Conclusions: Percutaneous neuromodulation demonstrated greater clinical effectiveness in pain reduction compared to ESWT and orthoses, although functional outcomes were similar. Further prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Introducción: El dolor crónico en el talón es un cuadro frecuente en la patología del pie. Este tipo de cuadros no están causados por una sola lesión, sino que es el resultado de la combinación de una serie de cuadros clínicos, especialmente por una neuropatía de Baxter y una fascitis plantar. Desde hace varios años, y tras analizar una serie de casos clínicos, se observa que los pacientes con dolor crónico en el talón cursan con un proceso de fasciosis plantar, edema óseo de calcáneo o síndrome congestivo de calcáneo y neuropatía del nervio de Baxter. A raíz de este hallazgo concluimos en una nueva entidad clínica denominada tríada találgica, la cual no presenta referencias bibliográficas anteriores en la literatura científica. Pacientes y métodos: Se ha llevado a cabo una serie de casos de 10 pacientes a los que se les diagnostica una combinación de 3 patologías, denominada tríada találgica, que cursa con aparición de fasciosis plantar, edema óseo de calcáneo (congestión calcánea) y neuropatía compresiva de Baxter. Cada una de estas patologías se trata de forma independiente con distintas terapias, tales como soportes plantares, infiltraciones, tratamiento farmacológico o cirugía. Resultados: Un total de 10 mujeres con una edad media de 53 años fueron diagnosticadas de fasciosis plantar, edema óseo de calcáneo y neuropatía compresiva de Baxter mediante diferentes pruebas, como la ecografía. Estas pacientes fueron tratadas mediante infiltraciones de colágeno, extracción del líquido sanguinolento del calcáneo, terapia electrolisis percutánea intratisular, soportes plantares, tratamiento farmacológico y ondas de choque. El 40 % de la muestra se encontraba de baja laboral debido al dolor incapacitante de esta tríada y el 10 % en situación de jubilación. Conclusiones: La tríada találgica es una entidad clínica desconocida, con un diagnóstico complejo que combina pruebas complementarias con diagnóstico clínico. Asimismo, existen muy pocas referencias bibliográficas acerca de esta temática.

Background. Plantar fasciitis (PF) is a common condition, affecting 10% of adults and accounting for 15% of foot pain consultations. Although 90% of cases resolve within 12 months with conservative treatments, chronic cases require more invasive treatments. Risk factors include a high body mass index and anatomical foot disorders. There is no standard treatment; options range from nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to surgery. Corticosteroids, while effective short term, can cause severe side effects. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has shown long-term effectiveness, alleviating pain and improving functionality. Methods. This study, registered in PROSPERO and following PRISMA guidelines, searched for randomized clinical trials in PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, and Web of Science comparing PRP with corticosteroids from 2019 to April 2024. It focused on patients with PF treated with PRP versus corticosteroids and their improvement in visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores. Randomized clinical trials were included, and the risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane tool. Visual analog scale pain scores were analyzed using mean differences and a 95% CI. Heterogeneity was assessed with Q and I² tests. A random-effects model was used if significant heterogeneity was present; otherwise, a fixed-effects model was applied. Analysis was conducted with Review Manager 5.4. Results. Thirteen trials met the inclusion criteria, involving 901 subjects (497 with PRP and 404 with corticosteroids). In the short term, there were no significant differences in pain reduction (P = .85). In the medium term, PRP showed better results in VAS pain scores (P < .00001). Conclusion. PRP is a safe and effective alternative for treating PF pain, with better results than corticosteroids in the medium term. Platelet-rich plasma is recommended as the preferred option in the management of chronic PF.

Background: Plantar fat plays a crucial role in protecting and cushioning the metatarsals. Its degeneration is a risk factor for the development of metatarsalgia and, consequently, predislocation syndrome. Objectives: To evaluate the relationship between plantar fat thickness and predislocation syndrome in an adult population, and to determine a possible association between a decrease in forefoot plantar fat and the presence of symptoms. Material and Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted, including records of patients who visited the podiatry clinic between December 2022 and December 2023. Fifty complete records were selected, divided into two groups, one healthy and one pathological, aged between 18 and 70 years. An ultrasound examination of the plantar area of the second metatarsophalangeal joint was performed to assess the thickness of the fat and plantar plate. Results: The analysis of the 50 records, divided into healthy and pathological groups, reveals significant differences in the thickness of plantar fat and the plantar plate between the two groups. Subjects with predislocation syndrome have a significantly lower plantar fat thickness (0.566 cm) compared to the healthy group (0.941 cm) and also show a greater thickness of the plantar plate (0.359 cm vs. 0.244 cm). Statistical tests confirm these differences with high significance (p < 0.001). The ROC curve shows that plantar fat thickness is a good predictor of predislocation syndrome, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.923, emphasizing the utility of this measure in identifying the condition. Conclusions: Preliminary studies suggest that a reduction in plantar fat increases the predisposition to develop predislocation syndrome at the level of the second metatarsophalangeal joint.

Background: Currently, there is no scientific evidence regarding pain in the anesthetic block of the first toe according to the method of application. However, clinical evidence has highlighted the use of the carpule due to the low pain it causes during the administration of the anesthetic. Most studies on anesthesia and pain, especially using the carpule and distraction methods, belong to the field of dentistry. Objective: To compare the pain and effectiveness between the anesthetic block of the first toe using a carpule and syringe with Frost’s H technique and the modified Frost’s H technique. Method: A total of 564 subjects were selected and divided into four groups. Subjects were subjected to experimental conditions (randomization through the Random Allocation Software program 2.0), and divided into group 1 = 138 subjects, corresponding to the block with syringe and Frost’s H, group 2 = 141 subjects, corresponding to the syringe group and modified Frost’s H, group 3 = 141 subjects, corresponding to the carpule group and modified Frost’s H, and group 4 = 144 subjects, corresponding to the carpule group and Frost’s H. The same researcher generated the random allocation sequence, enrolled the participants, and assigned them to the interventions. Each subject was unaware of the anesthetic procedure assigned by the researcher. Outcome parameters were pain after anesthetic infiltration and its effectiveness. Results: The anesthetic block with carpule showed a lower pain score compared to the anesthetic block with syringe (2.8 vs. 5.3; p < 0.001). However, when analyzing effectiveness, a higher efficacy rate was obtained in the anesthetic blocks performed using the modified Frost’s H technique (97.5% vs. 88.1%; p < 0.001). Conclusions: The anesthetic block with carpule and the modified Frost’s H technique is less painful and more effective than the traditional anesthetic block.