FREQUENCY, AGE-DEPENDENCE AND SEX DISTRIB UTION OF CALCANEAL SPURS - ANALYSIS OF X-RAY MORPHOLOGY IN 1027 CENTRAL-EUROPEAN PATIENTS

In 1027 lateral radiograms of the ankle in a Caucasian population, 161 plantar and/or dorsal calcaneal spurs (15.7%) were diagnosed. Plantar spurs were more common than dorsal spurs (11.2 and 9.3% respectively) . Prevalence of both spurs increases considerably with the rising age. Dorsal spurs appear slightly earlier than plantar spurs. The spur fre quencies are similar in left and right feet. The plantar spurs were si gnificantly (p<0.0001) more common in women than in men in general, wh ile dorsal spurs were more frequent in men than in women up to the age of 70. The previously reported higher frequencies of plantar and dors al calcaneal spurs in women than in men are probably a result of a dis proportionally higher number of women in higher age in the groups stud ied. In forensic medicine, calcaneal spurs provide evidence for identi ty and age of unknown corpses, and to certain extend their profession, physical activities and constitution during life.