Treatment of recalcitrant intermetatarsal neuroma with 4% sclerosing alcohol injection: a pilot study.
The purpose of this investigation was to conduct a prospective trial to assess the effectiveness of a 4% sclerosing alcohol injection in a small group of patients with intermetatarsal neuromas who had failed previous conservative therapies including corticosteroid injections. Six patients with 8 neuromas were followed for a mean 346 days. A weekly series of 3-9 injections containing 1 mL of the 4% alcohol sclerosing solution were given based on patient response to treatment. Pre- and posttreatment surveys consisting of both objective and subjective findings including a visual analog pain scale were collected. The average pretreatment visual analog pain rating was 7.5 +/- 1.14. The average posttreatment visual analog pain rating was 1.38 +/- 2.39 with an average reduction of 6.13. The average reported improvement in symptoms was 73%. Five of the 6 patients would recommend the treatment to a friend or family member. No complications were encountered. Two neuromas in 2 patients failed the sclerosing injection course: 1 ultimately responded to antiinflammatory use and the other underwent excision.
Hyer
Christopher F
CF
The Ohio State University Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio, USA.
Mehl
Lynette R
LR
Block
Alan J
AJ
Vancourt
Robert B
RB
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005534:Foot Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009463:Neuroma / Q000628:therapy*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012597:Sclerosing Solutions / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D012597:Sclerosing Solutions; D000431:Ethanol