Dangers anatomiques de la section percutanée du ligament inter-métatarsien dans le traitement du névrome de Morton

Metatarsal sliding osteotomy is effective without altering plantar pressure in Morton's neuroma: Retrospective case series

BACKGROUND

Various operative methods for the treatment of Morton's neuroma have been discussed, and osteotomy of the metatarsal bone has been reported recently. However, there has been no report of pedobarographic changes after metatarsal osteotomy. Pedobarographic changes of other metatarsal area after the surgery may cause transfer metatarsalgia, and thorough analysis of the pedobarographic data should be performed peri-operatively. The purpose of this study is to investigate the post-operative pedobarographic changes of sliding osteotomy of the 3rd metatarsal bone for treating Morton's neuroma.

METHODS

Forty patients (45 feet) who underwent metatarsal sliding osteotomy of the 3rd metatarsal bone for treating Morton's neuroma from November 2013 to December 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. Proximal sliding osteotomy was performed at the proximal 3rd metatarsal bone through dorsal approach. Clinical outcomes were evaluated with American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Lesser Metatarsophalangeal Interphalangeal Scale (AOFAS LMIS), Foot Function Index (FFI), and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Plain radiograph and pedobarogram were performed to evaluate the radiologic and pedobarographic outcomes.

RESULTS

AOFAS score was improved from 52.8 ± 9.0 (18-62) to 88.8 ± 9.8 (78-100) and FFI was improved from 61.8 ± 4.9 (50-70) to 32.2 ± 5.1 (23-42) on average. The 3rd metatarsal bone was shortened by 3.1 ± 0.8 mm and dorsally shifted by 1.5 ± 0.4 mm after the surgery. Plantar intermetatarsal distances between 2nd and 3rd and 3rd and 4th metatarsal heads were significantly increased post-operatively. Average forefoot pressure and maximum pressure of the 2nd to 4th metatarsal head were not significantly changed between pre-operatively and post-operatively.

CONCLUSION

Proximal metatarsal sliding osteotomy of the 3rd metatarsal bone shows a satisfactory result in both clinical and pedobarographical evaluations. It could be an effective treatment of permanent indirect decompression of Morton's neuroma with avoiding recurred neuroma, adhesion of tissue, paresthesia, and transfer metatarsalgia.

Intermetatarsal ligament section assisted with sonography for the percutaneous surgery of Morton's disease: Cadaveric study

BACKGROUND

Surgical treatment of Morton's neuroma remains controversial. Several surgical techniques have been described including percutaneous transection of the deep metatarsal transverse ligament (DMTL).

PURPOSE

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of percutaneous release of the DMTL under ultrasound guidance for the treatment of Morton's syndrome.

MATERIALS AND METHODOLOGY

Percutaneous release of the DMTL was performed with ultrasound guidance in 48 intermetatarsal spaces of 16 cadaveric specimens. Specimens were then dissected to assess the completion of the release and the presence of any injuries of the neurovascular and tendinous adjacent structures.

RESULTS

The DMTL was visualized with ultrasound in all cases. Complete release of the ligament was achieved in 87.5% (42/48) cases. One case of interdigital nerve injury was found.

CONCLUSION

Percutaneous release of DMTL with ultrasound guidance for the treatment of Morton's disease has an acceptable rate of complications but care must be taken to ensure the complete release of the ligament.

Anatomic basis for a new ultrasound-guided, mini-invasive technique for release of the deep transverse metatarsal ligament

Introduction

Morton's neuroma is an entrapment neuropathy of the third common plantar digital nerve, caused by the deep transverse metatarsal ligament (DTML). Minimally invasive or percutaneous surgery is a very common procedure, but surgical effectivity of this technique remains controversial. The goal of our study was to prove the effectiveness and safety of a new ultrasound‐guided technique for DTML‐release in a cadaver model.

Materials, Methods, and Results

The DTML was visualized in 10 fresh frozen donated body to science‐feet (eight male and two females, five left and five right) using an US device (GE Logic R7; 13 MHz linear probe, Madrid, Spain). Consecutively, minimally invasive ultrasound‐guided surgery was performed. Exclusion criteria of the donated bodies to science were previous history of forefoot surgery and space occupying mass lesions. The complete release of the ligament was achieved in all specimens without damage of any important anatomical structures as proven by anatomical dissection.

Conclusions

The results of this study indicate that our novel approach of an ultrasound‐guided release of the DTML is safer and more effective compared to blind techniques. The DTML could reliably be visualized and securely cut through a dorsal, minimally invasive surgical incision of only 2 mm.

Metatarsalgia and Morton's Disease: Comparison of Outcomes Between Open Procedure and Neurectomy Versus Percutaneous Metatarsal Osteotomies and Ligament Release With a Minimum of 2 Years of Follow-Up

The present study compared the clinical results of open neurectomy versus a percutaneous procedure for Morton's disease. This was a retrospective study comparing the functional results after 2 surgical procedures: open neurectomy and a percutaneous procedure (with deep transverse metatarsal ligament release and distal metatarsal osteotomies). The present study included 52 patients (26 in each group), and the mean follow-up period was 4 (range 2 to 7) years. The patient evaluation criteria included the presence of painful symptoms of Morton's disease, American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) functional scale score, patient satisfaction, and delay for recovery. Percutaneous treatment of Morton's disease and open neurectomy produced complete relief of pain in 25 of 26 patients in each group. At the latest follow-up visit, the mean AOFAS score had significantly improved from 36 ± 11 preoperatively to a mean of 89 ± 18 (p < .001). After 2 years, the functional improvement obtained with the percutaneous procedure persisted, with a stable AOFAS score (96 ± 10). Persistent metatarsalgia was reported by patients who had undergone open neurectomy, with a significantly decreased AOFAS score (81 ± 21, p = .009). The percutaneous procedure for Morton's disease provided excellent functional outcomes (AOFAS score >90) significantly more often with a shorter delay than after open neurectomy (p = .03). At the latest follow-up visit, metatarsalgia due to plantar hyperpressure or bursitis and requiring plantar orthotics was present in 11 of 26 patients (44%) after open neurectomy and in 1 of 26 patients (4%) after the percutaneous procedure (p = .002). Percutaneous treatment of Morton's disease is a reliable procedure providing results as good as those after open neurectomy, with significantly better outcomes in the longer term and a lower rate of late metatarsalgia.