Piezogenic Papules Heel Causes. When adipose tissue herniates out of these stiffer supporting tissues and becomes obvious to the eye the term for this condition is called a piezogenic papule. The herniation results in small bumps called piezogenic pedal papules or piezogenic papules.
This is a reasonably common foot complaint that brings patients into the office. The risk factors for piezogenic pedal papules include ehler danlos syndrome prader willi syndrome flatfeet and obesity. When adipose tissue herniates out of these stiffer supporting tissues and becomes obvious to the eye the term for this condition is called a piezogenic papule.
Shelley and rawnsley first described piezogenic pedal papules ppp in 1968.
Herniation of fat into the dermis causes the papular appearance. They are often bilateral. Papules resolve when the patient is non weight bearing. They mostly occur over the posterior and lateral border of the heels.