This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Go to /pro/cpd-dashboard page

This page is worth 0.05 CPD credits. CPD dashboard

Go to /account/subscription-details page

This page is worth 0.05 CPD credits. Upgrade to Pro

Morton's metatarsalgia

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Morton's neuroma is a compression neuropathy of the interdigital nerve branches in forefoot, usually seen in the third intermetatarsal space (but can occur in other intermetatarsal spaces as well) (1,2,3)

  • also referred to as Morton’s metatarsalgia, interdigital neuritis, Morton’s entrapment, interdigital neuralgia, interdigital neuroma, interdigital nerve compression syndrome, and intermetatarsal neuroma
  • technically this condition is not a true neuroma , as a degenerative rather than a proliferative process is involved (1)
  • charcterised by perineural fibrosis and nerve degeneration due to repetitive irritation of the digital nerve caused by repeated trauma, ischemia or entrapment of the nerve (2)

The exact incidence of the condition is unknown. Small studies have estimated the prevalence to be around 30%.

  • occurs most frequently in women in middle-aged women, and the incidence is at least four to 15 times higher in females
  • common causes include
    • narrow toe-box footwear
    • hyperextension of the toes in high-heeled shoe
    • deviation of the toes
    • inflammation of the intermetatarsal bursa
    • forefoot trauma
    • some high impact sporting activities such as running, football, basketball
    • metatarsophalangeal joint pathology
    • lipoma (1,2,3)

Reference:


Create an account to add page annotations

Annotations allow you to add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation. E.g. a website or number. This information will always show when you visit this page.

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.