[Clinic and pathogenesis of Morton's disease (author's transl)].

Abstract

From experience with 58 own cases the authors found that Morton's metatarsalgia due to a sclerosing neuroma of the plantar digital nerve is very often not recognised for many years. As this painfull affection easily can be cured, the clinical symptoms and histological findings, the diagnostic steps and treatment are described and the etiology discussed. For the excision of the plantar digital neuroma, situated generally between 3rd and 4th metatarsal head, the dorsal web-splitting approach is preferred because of better scars and immediate weigt-bearing. The operation is performed on outdoor patients. There were no complications. The results of 35 operations two or more years back show immediate and complete relief of pain in 31 cases and significant but incomplete relief in 4 cases.