Abstract
Purpose: To describe sonographic evaluation of Morton’s neuroma and to demonstrate the advantage of the ultrasound technique.
Material and methods: Between the years 1999–2001, eight patients were operated upon because of Morton’s neuroma in the 3rd interspace, using dorsal approach at the Basel Height Medical Center. Five patients were female and three were male, mean age 35 years (range, 17–51 years). All the patients suffered from metatarsalgia at the 3rd web while walking with shoes. No pain was noted when they walked barefoot. All the patients underwent sonographic evaluation by using high frequency transducers of 10 and 12 MHz. Plantar and dorsal scanning was performed with and without digital pressure of the metatarsal space.
Results: In all the operated cases ultrasound examination prior to surgery revealed an ovoid, well defined hypoecogenic mass of a mean diameter of 8 mm (range 7–15 mm), located in the third interdigital space, proximal to the metatarsal heads. Plantar scanning and dorsal digital pressure, by the examiner, disclosed the best sonographic images. All cases were confirmed by histological examination. No surgical complications were noted.
Conclusion: We present the sonographic appearance of Morton’s neuroma in eight cases that underwent surgical excision of the neuromas. We describe manual maneuvers in order to bring up the best images of the mass.
The abstracts were prepared by Orah Naor. Correspondence should be addressed to him at the Israel Orthopaedic Association, PO Box 7845, Haifa 31074, Israel.
