Morton's Neuroma Case Study

One of the medical conditions of the foot that affect an individual 's function is Morton 's neuroma (MN). MN initially identified by Queen Victoria 's surgeon ( Lewis Dulacher) in the year 1845. Dulacher (1845) recognized that MN is the formation of inflammation of the nerve affecting the distal plantar nerves (Dulacher,1945). Thomas Morton first described the clinical manifestation of MN in 1874 (Shishir & Wang, 2009). The signs and symptoms of MN are the pain in the proximal region of the metatarsal heads radiating down to the third and fourth toes, exacerbated by ambulation with tight shoes and with palpable increase tenderness on metatarsal heads (Shishir & Wang, 2009). According to Klenerman, MacClellan, Guiloff, and (1983): Levine, …show more content…
Diagnostic imaging is an essential adjunct to clarify a suspected interdigital neuroma or MN. Based on Torres- Claramunt et al. (2012), for vague symptoms related to MN, double lesions and for legal purposes, imaging studies is an essential resource for the accuracy and exact location of disease. To confirm the accuracy of the significance of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) versus ultrasonography (US), Fazal, Khan, and Thomas, (2012) collected 47 eligible candidates with clinical signs and symptoms of suspected MN. The qualified candidates divided into two groups: ist group (n= 25) received US test and the second group (n=22) received MRI test. The result of the study, 96 percent specificity of US group, five patients with a size of smaller than 5mm lesion related to MN and with only one false negative outcome with 3.5 mm lesion as based on the microscopic analysis (Fazal et al.,2012). The results of MRI among 22 patients with 88% sensitivity with a lesion of 6.6 mm with false negative of 3 patients with 6 mm of a lesion. Therefore, Faizal et al.(2012) concluded that US is significant modality in diagnosing a patient with suspected MN. However, the author concluded that the