Morton's

Morton's neuroma (also known as Morton's metatarsalgia, Morton's disease, Morton's neuralgia, Morton metatarsalgia, Morton nerve entrapment, plantar neuroma, and intermetatarsal neuroma) is a benign neuroma of an intermetatarsal plantar nerve, most commonly of the second and third intermetatarsal spaces (between 2nd−3rd and 3rd−4th metatarsal heads), which results in the entrapment of the affected nerve. The main symptoms are pain and/or numbness, sometimes relieved by removing footwear.

Signs and symptoms

Despite the name, the condition was first correctly described by a chiropodist named Durlacher, and although it is labeled a "neuroma", many sources do not consider it a true tumor, but rather a perineural fibroma (fibrous tissue formation around nerve tissue).

Causes

Anything that causes compression or irritation of the nerve can lead to the development of a neuroma. One of the most common offenders is wearing shoes that have a tapered toe box, or high-heeled shoes that cause the toes to be forced into the toe box.

Diagnosis

The physician will make the diagnosis by physical examination; no laboratory testing is needed.

Treatment

Initial therapies are nonsurgical and relatively simple. They can involve one or more of the following treatments: changes in footwear, orthoses (foot padding and appliances), and/or steroid injections.

See also

• Neuroma
• Metatarsalgia
• Foot diseases

External links

• Morton's Neuroma from MedlinePlus
• Morton's Neuroma from Mayo Clinic

Morton's Resources
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