Heel pain in children - Diagnosis and treatment

Heel pain in children is common, and its evaluation is challenging. Medical history and physical examination may be unrevealing owing to children's li mited communication skills. Often, advanced laboratory and imaging studies are required to make an accurate diagnosis. The most common causes of heel pain in children are apophysitis, enthesopathy, and overuse syndromes such as tendinitis. Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is relatively uncommon. In ver y active children, occult fractures must also be evaluated. Pain unrelated to activity may indicate tumors, infection, or congenital problems. In gene ral, heel pain in children is treated nonoperatively. For fractures in part icular, children are less likely than adults to receive surgical treatment.