Sever's Disease (Calcaneal Apophysitis): Case Report
Year 2025,
Volume: 1 Issue: 2, 103 - 105, 01.09.2025
Veysel Kaplanoğlu
,
Hatice Kaplanoğlu
Abstract
Background: Calcaneal apophysitis or Sever's disease (SD) is the most common cause of heel pain in children. It is especially common in physically overactive and fast-growing children.
Case Presentation: A 12-year-old male patient who had pain in both heels for the last four months presented with increasing pain in the previous month and aggravated after sports activities. The pain in the right heel was more than in the left and prevented it from walking. Sever's disease was diagnosed by examination and radiological findings.
Conclusion: SD is a common cause of heel pain in children of growing age. It is benign and has the capacity to heal spontaneously. However, greater awareness of clinical diagnosis is important to reduce the rates of unnecessary radiological examinations.
References
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1. Wiegerinck JI, Yntema C, Brouwer HJ, Struijs PA. Incidence of calcanealapophysitis in the general population. Eur J Pediatr. 2014;173(5):677–699. doi:10.1007/s00431-013-2219-9
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2. Sever J. Apophysis of oscalcis. NY State J Med. 1912;95:1025.
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3. James AM, Williams CM, Haines TP. Effectiveness of footwear and foot orthoses for calcaneal apophysitis: a 12-month factorial randomised trial. Br J Sports Med. 2016;50(20):1268-1275. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2015-094986.
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4. Ceylan, H.H., Caypinar, B. Incidence of calcaneal apophysitis in Northwest Istanbul. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 19, 267 (2018). doi: 10.1186/s12891-018-2184-6
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5. Abdelgawad A, Naga O. Foot. In: Abdelgawad A, Naga O, editors. A Handbook for Primary Care Physicians, Pediatric Orthopedics. 2014 ed. New York. CN: Springer Science+Business Media; p. 157-197. 2014.
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6. Kose O. Do we really need radiographic assessment for the diagnosis of non-specific heel pain (calcaneal apophysitis) in children? Skeletal Radiol. 2010;39(4):359-61. doi: 10.1007/s00256-009-0774-y.
-
7. Orava S, Virtanen K. Osteochondroses in athletes. Br J Sports Med. 1982;16(3):161–168. doi: 10.1136/bjsm.16.3.161
-
8. Cassas KJ, Cassettari-Wayhs A. Childhood and adolescent sports-related overuse injuries. Am Fam Physician. 2006;73(6):1014-1022.
-
9. Karahan YA, Salbaş E, Tekin L, Yaşar O, Küçük A. Sever Hastalığı: Çocuklarda topuk ağrısının önemli bir nedeni; Olgu Sunumu. Turk J Osteoporos/Turk Osteoporoz Dergisi. 2014;20(2):86-88. https://doi.org/10.4274/tod.04695.
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10. Madden CC, Mellion MB. Sever's disease and other causes of heel pain in adolescents. Am Fam Physician. 1996 ;54(6):1995-2000.
-
11. Lawrence DA, Rolen MF, Morshed KA, Moukaddam H. MRI of heelpain. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2013;200(4):845–855.doi: 10.2214/AJR.12.8824
-
12. Perhamre S, Lundin F, Norlin R, Klässbo M. Sever's injury; treat it with a heel cup: a randomized, crossover study with two insole alternatives. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2011;21(6):e42-7.doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0838.2010.01140.x
-
13. Smith JM, Varacallo MA. Sever Disease (Calcaneal Apophysitis) [Updated 2024 Jan 11]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441928/.
Year 2025,
Volume: 1 Issue: 2, 103 - 105, 01.09.2025
Veysel Kaplanoğlu
,
Hatice Kaplanoğlu
References
-
1. Wiegerinck JI, Yntema C, Brouwer HJ, Struijs PA. Incidence of calcanealapophysitis in the general population. Eur J Pediatr. 2014;173(5):677–699. doi:10.1007/s00431-013-2219-9
-
2. Sever J. Apophysis of oscalcis. NY State J Med. 1912;95:1025.
-
3. James AM, Williams CM, Haines TP. Effectiveness of footwear and foot orthoses for calcaneal apophysitis: a 12-month factorial randomised trial. Br J Sports Med. 2016;50(20):1268-1275. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2015-094986.
-
4. Ceylan, H.H., Caypinar, B. Incidence of calcaneal apophysitis in Northwest Istanbul. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 19, 267 (2018). doi: 10.1186/s12891-018-2184-6
-
5. Abdelgawad A, Naga O. Foot. In: Abdelgawad A, Naga O, editors. A Handbook for Primary Care Physicians, Pediatric Orthopedics. 2014 ed. New York. CN: Springer Science+Business Media; p. 157-197. 2014.
-
6. Kose O. Do we really need radiographic assessment for the diagnosis of non-specific heel pain (calcaneal apophysitis) in children? Skeletal Radiol. 2010;39(4):359-61. doi: 10.1007/s00256-009-0774-y.
-
7. Orava S, Virtanen K. Osteochondroses in athletes. Br J Sports Med. 1982;16(3):161–168. doi: 10.1136/bjsm.16.3.161
-
8. Cassas KJ, Cassettari-Wayhs A. Childhood and adolescent sports-related overuse injuries. Am Fam Physician. 2006;73(6):1014-1022.
-
9. Karahan YA, Salbaş E, Tekin L, Yaşar O, Küçük A. Sever Hastalığı: Çocuklarda topuk ağrısının önemli bir nedeni; Olgu Sunumu. Turk J Osteoporos/Turk Osteoporoz Dergisi. 2014;20(2):86-88. https://doi.org/10.4274/tod.04695.
-
10. Madden CC, Mellion MB. Sever's disease and other causes of heel pain in adolescents. Am Fam Physician. 1996 ;54(6):1995-2000.
-
11. Lawrence DA, Rolen MF, Morshed KA, Moukaddam H. MRI of heelpain. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2013;200(4):845–855.doi: 10.2214/AJR.12.8824
-
12. Perhamre S, Lundin F, Norlin R, Klässbo M. Sever's injury; treat it with a heel cup: a randomized, crossover study with two insole alternatives. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2011;21(6):e42-7.doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0838.2010.01140.x
-
13. Smith JM, Varacallo MA. Sever Disease (Calcaneal Apophysitis) [Updated 2024 Jan 11]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441928/.