A prospective 2-year follow-up study of plantar incisions in the treatment of primary intermetatarsal neuromas (Morton's neuroma).
BACKGROUND
The aim of this prospective study, with a mean 29 (minimum 24) months follow-up was to evaluate the outcome of surgical treatment with a longitudinal, plantar incision of primary Morton's neuromas.


METHODS
All 55 patients (59 feet) had their pre-and post-operative pain assessed using VAS, and pre-operative radiographs evaluated. Two independent orthopedic surgeons performed the follow-up examinations.


RESULTS
Histology confirmed positive neuromas in all cases and there were only three minor complications. There was 88% reduction of pain at follow-up and 86% of all patients rated the overall satisfaction with the results as excellent or good. For those patients engaged in sports activities, the corresponding figure was 93%.


CONCLUSIONS
Surgery with a plantar incision seems to be a reliable and safe intervention of primary Morton's neuromas, with only limited number of minor complications and a subjective satisfactory outcome, well in accordance with other studies, using different, surgical approaches.
Akermark
Christian
C
Department of Orthopaedics, Ortopediska Huset, Drottninggatan 99, SE-11420 Stockholm, Sweden. christian.akermark@telia.com
Saartok
Tönu
T
Zuber
Zbigniew
Z
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005534:Foot Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009463:Neuroma / Q000601:surgery*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014034:Toes