Sever's Disease

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Definition/Description

The term was coined by James Warren Sever in 1912. One of the most common causes of heel pain among children between the ages of 10 to 12 years. Also known as calcaneal apophysitis, this condition is the painful inflammation of the calcaneal apophysis caused by repetitive microtrauma on the unossified apophysis due to traction of the achilles tendon. Other common traction injuries are Iliac apophysitis, medial epicondyle apophysitis or Little League elbow, inferior pole of patella apophysitis or Sinding-Larsen-Johansson syndrome, tibial tubercle apophysitis or Osgood-Schlatter disease, and fifth metatarsal apophysitis.

Clinically Relevant Anatomy

Apophysis have a higher composition of fibrocartilage. The calcaneal apophysis usually appears in children around 7-9 years old and ossifies as an independent ossification center by around age 15-17 years. The Achilles Tendon inserts to the lower, posterior and slightly medial aspect of the calcaneus. The calcaneal growth plates are subjected to high stress from the plantar aponeurosis and the achilles tendon.

Epidemiology /Etiology

Sever’s disease is an osteochondrosis caused by overload. This C-shaped growth zone becomes inflamed secondary to repetitive traction stress of the achilles tendon. It is an overgrowth syndrome and is similar to Osgood-Schlatter disease. Growth is directly proportional to the amount of the stress placed on it.

Active children and adolescents, particularly during the pubertal growth spurt or at the beginning of a sport season (e.g. gymnasts, basketball and football players) often suffer from this condition. This disease occurs most commonly during the early part of the growth spurt. A boy-to-girl ratio is 2-3:1.

It occurs only in the growing children and never occurs after puberty

Characteristics/Clinical Presentation

This syndrome can occur unilaterally or bilaterally. The incidence of bilaterally is approximately 60%.
Common signs and symptoms:

• Pain is usually absent when the child gets up in the morning.
• Increased pain with weight bearing, running or jumping
• Tenderness on medial and lateral heel compression.
• No erythema, swelling or skin changes found.
• Can be associated with other foot malalignments.
• The child may limp at the end of physical activity.
• Limited ankle dorsiflexion range secondary to tightness of the Achilles tendon.

Hard surfaces and poor-quality or worn-out athletic shoes contribute to increased symptoms. The pain gradually resolves with rest. All the sports activity that includes running should be discontinued while the child has heel pain.

Differential Diagnosis

Posterior heel pain can occur due to

• Achilles Tendinopathy
• Haglund's Deformity
• Retrocalcaneal Bursitis
• Calcaneal stress Fracture
• Heel spur
• Heel pad syndrome

Diagnostic Procedures

Radiography

Most of the time radiographs are not helpful because the calcaneal apophysis is frequently fragmented and dense in normal children. But they can be used to exclude other traumas.

Ultrasonography

could show the fragmentation of secondary nucleus of ossification of the calcaneal growth plate. This is a safe diagnostic tool since there is no radiation. This diagnostic tool can also be used to exclude Achilles tendinopathy and/or retrocalcaneal bursitis.

Examination

•  Tenderness on palpation.
• Passive dorsiflexion test of the ankle: shows a decrease in dorsiflexion. This test may also provoke a painful reaction.
• Squeeze test: Mediolateral compression of the calcaneal growth plate to elicit pain in Sever’s disease. Performed over the lower one-third of the posterior calcaneus. This test is the most important to diagnose calcaneal apophysitis.
• Standing tiptoe aggravates the heel pain.
• Biomechanical abnormalities: pes valgoplanus, forefoot varus, rear foot varus, pes cavus, pes planus, and hallux valgus.
• Swelling and other skin changes are indicators for different pathologic conditions and are uncommon for Sever’s disease. Although there could be mild swelling.
• Gait may be normal; the patient may walk with a limp or exhibit a forceful heel strike.
• Overweight
  

Physical Therapy Management

As the condition is self-limiting, it resolves as the child matures. Treatment depends on the severity of the child’s symptoms. During the active phase, the patient’s activity level should be limited only by pain.

Treatment:

• Relative Rest and/or cessation of sports. 
• Cryotherapy.
• Tapping
• Silicone heel cup with medial arch support cushions the affected area for shock absorption and helps in reducing pain.
• Orthoses can be prescribed to correct secondary foot malalignments, such as foot in valgus position can disrupt the Windlass mechanism which is important for normal gait.
• Stretching of Triceps Surae, Plantar fascia to improve dorsiflexion and strengthening of extensors
• Gentle mobilizations to the subtalar joint and forefoot area
• Electrical stimulation in the form of Russian stimulation sine wave modulated at 2500 Hz with a 12 second on time and an 8 second off time with a 3 second ramp
• Ultrasound, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. 
• Corticosteroid injections are not recommended.
• Ketoprofen Gel as an addition to treatment.

Symptoms usually resolve in a few weeks to 2 months after therapy is initiated.