Persistent pain after excision of an interdigital neuroma. Results of reoperation

Abstract

Thirty-four patients (thirty-seven feet) had a reoperation for pain that persisted after excision of a plantar interdigital (Morton) neuroma. A longitudinal plantar incision was used in thirty-three feet and the previous dorsal web-space incision was used in four feet. Of the thirty-nine pathological specimens that were obtained intraoperatively, twenty-six (67 per cent) contained elements either of primary interdigital neuroma tissue or of an interdigital neuroma in association with an amputation-stump neuroma, indicating that the recurrent pain in these patients had probably resulted from an incomplete initial excision. All but one of the thirty-four patients were available for follow-up at an average of seventy-six months (range, ten to 124 months) postoperatively. Twenty-two patients (67 per cent) had complete relief from or marked improvement in pain, three (9 per cent) had improvement but had persistent pain, and eight (24 per cent) had no improvement or had worse pain. The longitudinal plantar incision was satisfactory in all but one patient and did not result in a painful plantar scar. The number of previously unsuccessful attempts that had been made to excise the neuroma did not adversely affect the results of reoperation in this group of patients.