title: Long-term results of neurectomy in the treatment of Morton's neuroma: more than 10 years' follow-up.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this retrospective study was to evaluate the long-term follow-up results of neurectomy clinical outcomes and complications in the treatment of Morton's neuroma.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 19 patients (19 different feet) were treated for Morton's neuroma by excision of the interdigital nerve at our institute between May 1997 and May 1999. Thirteen (13 feet) of them were followed up. The 13 patients were female and had an average age of 43 years (range 34-54 years) at the time of the operation. The patients were followed-up for a mean of 10.5 years (range 10.0-12.2 years) and scored using the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) forefoot scoring system and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score. Subjective satisfaction was evaluated at the final follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight patients scored more than 90 on the AOFAS forefoot scoring system. The VAS score was improved in all patients. The mean preoperative VAS score was 8.6 ± 0.8 cm (7-10) and the mean follow-up VAS score was 2.4 ± 1.8cm (0-6), which indicated no significant difference (P > .05). The final follow-up satisfaction results indicated that 4 patients were completely satisfied with the operation, 4 were satisfied with minor reservations, 5 were satisfied with major reservations, and no patient was unsatisfied. Neurectomy to treat Morton's neuroma had a good satisfaction rate (61%). Eleven of the patients complained of numbness on the plantar aspect of the foot adjacent to the interspace, and 2 of these 11 patients complained of disability induced by severe numbness. There was a complaint of residual pain by 1 patient. There were no skin problems on the operation lesions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The long-term results of neurectomy clinical outcomes in Morton's neuroma are slightly worse than the short- and mid-term results.
  
  
  METHODS
  Therapeutic, Level IV, Retrospective case series.
authors: Foot and Ankle Clinic, KT Lee's Orthopedic Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors: Kyung Tai
authors: KT
authors: Lee
authors: Jun Beom
authors: JB
authors: Kim
authors: Ki Won
authors: KW
authors: Young
authors: Young Uk
authors: YU
authors: Park
authors: Jin Su
authors: JS
authors: Kim
authors: Hyuk
authors: H
authors: Jegal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005545:Forefoot, Human / Q000294:innervation* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000601:surgery*; D009463:Neuroma / Q000601:surgery*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000601:surgery*; D010524:Peripheral Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies