title: The role of the width of the forefoot in the development of Morton's neuroma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Morton's neuroma is common condition of the forefoot, but its aetiology remains unclear. Our aim was to evaluate the relationship between the width of the forefoot and the development of a Morton's neuroma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between January 2013 and May 2016, a total of 84 consecutive patients (17 men, 67 women) with a unilateral Morton's neuroma were enrolled into the study. The involved and uninvolved feet of each patient were compared. A control group of patients with symptoms from the foot, but without a neuroma who were matched for age, gender, affected side, and web space location, were enrolled. The first to fifth intermetatarsal distance, intermetatarsal angle and intermetatarsal distance of involved web space on standing radiographs were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The inter- and intra-observer reliability was excellent. The three parameters did not differ significantly between the involved and uninvolved feet. Neither did they differ significantly between the patients and the controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that there is no significant relationship between the width of the forefoot and the development of a Morton's neuroma. Cite this article:Bone Joint J2017;99-B:365-8.
authors.affiliation: Korea University Guro Hospital, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, 148 Gurodong-ro, Guro-gu, Seoul, 08308, Korea.
authors.forename: Y H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Korea University Guro Hospital, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, 148 Gurodong-ro, Guro-gu, Seoul, 08308, Korea.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.affiliation: Korea University Ansan Hospital, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, 123 Jeokgeum-ro, Danwon-gu, Ansan, 15355, Korea.
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Korea University Guro Hospital, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, 148 Gurodong-ro, Guro-gu, Seoul, 08308, Korea.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005545:Forefoot, Human / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000070607:Morton Neuroma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D015588:Observer Variation; D011859:Radiography; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Forefoot width; Intermetatarsal distance; Morton’s neuroma