Sever's Disease (Calcaneal Apophysitis)

Abstract

Sever's disease, or calcaneal apophysitis, is the primary cause of heel pain in pediatric patients between the ages of 8 and 15 years. Primary risk factors in pediatric athletes are obesity and high levels of physical activity. Sever's injury primarily results from high-impact sports such as soccer, track, cross-country, gymnastics, tennis, and ballet. This injury mainly occurs during puberty with an open growth plate in the immature calcaneus. Clinical diagnosis can be confirmed by performing a "squeeze test" of the heel on physical examination. Diagnostic imaging findings include increased sclerosis and fragmentation of the calcaneal apophysis on plain radiograph x-rays. Ice, activity restriction, stretching, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, immobilization, and heel cups are all methods that can be utilized in treating the pain caused by Sever's. No long-term effects have been associated with Sever's disease.