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.