Plantar vein thrombosis

Edwards, Steven R.
Wood, Omar D.

¹Registrar, Australasian College of Podiatric Surgeons, Victoria, 3000, Australia
²Discipline of Podiatry, School of Allied Health, La Trobe University, Victoria, 3086, Australia
³Discipline of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences & Medicine, Bond University, Queensland, 4226, Australia

Steven R. Edwards, Australasian College of Podiatric Surgeons, 2/1 Lansdown Street, HAMPTON, Victoria 3188, Australia. Email: [email protected]

Phlebology 36(1):p 26-31, February 2021. | DOI: 10.1177/0268355520946620

Plantar vein thrombosis is an uncommon and under-diagnosed cause of plantar foot pain. It is characterized by the formation of a blood clot (thrombus) within one of the plantar veins. Factors leading to this condition are unclear and multiple potential causes have been proposed. Plantar vein thrombosis presents as non-specific unilateral plantar foot pain, swelling, and a heavy feeling in the affected foot. There is no current diagnostic guideline for this condition however compression ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging appear suitable. Treatments range from rest and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to six months of anticoagulant therapy. Herein, we aim to consolidate the current literature on plantar vein thrombosis to guide clinicians and future researchers.