Biz Carlo, Crimì Alberto, Mori Fabiana, Zinnarello Felicia Deborah, Sciarretta Giovanni, Ruggieri Pietro
Department of Orthopedics and Orthopedic Oncology; DiSCOG; University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
Int Orthop. 2025 Apr;49(4):975-987. doi: 10.1007/s00264-024-06390-3. Epub 2024 Dec 21.
The interdigital nerve neuroma of the forefoot is commonly known as Morton's Neuroma. Many authors have described and treated this condition before and after Morton. This study aims to investigate the past scientific literature to better understand what comprehension and treatments have been used to master this pathology.
Historical and modern scientific accounts were searched for descriptions of interdigital nerve neuroma or metatarsalgia (as some authors described it) to have a thorough overview of the subject. The scientific literature was searched to highlight the evolution of the nomenclature and to summarise historical and current treatments, especially conservative ones.
Influential authors described the interdigital nerve neuroma and its symptoms. Durlacher, the King's podiatrist in England in the 1800s, was the first to understand that this was a neuralgic affection; with his practical approach, he treated the Neuroma using pressure-relieving footwear. The first anatomical description should be credited to the Italian anatomist Civinini. Morton, the American Civil War surgeon, was the first to understand the aetiology of pain better and the first to propose a surgical treatment to relieve symptoms. Tubby, the British alpine climber, linguist, archaeologist and orthopaedic surgeon, observed a nodular mass on the third common digital nerve and proposed surgical treatment with resection of the metatarso-phalangeal joint.
the use of a term widely accepted and recognised by all its users with a precise meaning and symbolisation makes it easily understandable and lasting. Also, if it is known that what is called Morton's neuroma is not a neuroma but a benign perineural fibrosis of a common plantar digital nerve, the use of the terminology Morton's neuroma is still universally accepted and recognised.
前足趾间神经瘤通常被称为莫顿神经瘤。许多作者在莫顿之前和之后都对这种病症进行过描述和治疗。本研究旨在调查过去的科学文献，以更好地了解用于攻克这种病理状况的理解和治疗方法。
检索历史和现代科学文献，查找关于趾间神经瘤或跖痛症（如一些作者所描述）的描述，以便对该主题有全面的了解。检索科学文献以突出命名法的演变，并总结历史和当前的治疗方法，尤其是保守治疗方法。
有影响力的作者描述了趾间神经瘤及其症状。19世纪英国国王的足病医生杜拉赫尔是第一个认识到这是一种神经痛病症的人；通过他的实际方法，他使用减压鞋来治疗神经瘤。首次解剖学描述应归功于意大利解剖学家奇维宁尼。美国内战外科医生莫顿是第一个更好地理解疼痛病因并第一个提出手术治疗以缓解症状的人。英国高山登山者、语言学家、考古学家和矫形外科医生塔比观察到第三支趾总神经上有一个结节状肿块，并提出切除跖趾关节的手术治疗方法。
使用一个被所有使用者广泛接受和认可、具有精确含义和象征意义的术语，使其易于理解且持久。此外，即使已知所谓的莫顿神经瘤并非真正的神经瘤，而是足底趾总神经的良性神经周纤维化，但莫顿神经瘤这一术语仍被普遍接受和认可。
