What is the medical term for a bump on the heel?

Medical Term for a Bump on the Heel

The medical term for a bump on the heel is a "calcaneal spur" (also called a "heel spur"), which is a bony projection that forms on the calcaneus bone. 1, 2

Anatomical Definition

• A calcaneal spur is a fibrocartilaginous triangular projection that develops from the insertional area of the plantar fascia on the calcaneus. 1
• These bony projections form around the calcaneal bone, which is the strongest, most significant, and posterior-most bone in the foot. 2
• Calcaneal spurs are usually single in number but can vary in size, with rare cases of paired or double spurs occurring bilaterally. 1

Location-Specific Terminology

Posterior heel bumps have a specific name:

• When the bump is located on the posterior superior aspect of the calcaneus, it is called "Haglund's deformity", which is a prominent posterior superior calcaneus that causes inflammation of the overlying retrocalcaneal bursa. 3
• This condition presents with posterior and lateral heel pain and is typically visible on radiographs. 3

Clinical Significance

• The classic symptom of a calcaneal spur is talalgia (heel pain), though spurs can be asymptomatic in some cases. 2, 1
• The presence of the spur itself isn't necessarily the pain source; rather, inflammation of surrounding tissues and possible nerve compression cause symptoms. 4
• Calcaneal spurs are often associated with plantar fasciitis and sometimes cannot be differentiated from one another clinically. 5

Common Pitfall

• Don't assume all heel bumps are the same—location matters for accurate diagnosis: plantar surface spurs are calcaneal spurs associated with plantar fasciitis, while posterior bumps are Haglund's deformity with retrocalcaneal bursitis. 3, 4