What is Morton’s neuroma? Morton’s neuroma (also known as Morton’s metatarsalgia, Morton’s neuralgia and intermetatarsal neuroma) is a benign neuroma of the metatarsal nerve located between the metatarsal bones, most commonly in the third and fourth metatarsal spaces, because the lateral and medial metatarsal nerves converge here The nerve is located subcutaneously, just above the fat pad of the foot, near the arteries and veins, and above the nerve is the deep transverse metatarsal ligament, which is very tough and forms the top of the nerve. All of these reasons make the nerve vulnerable to compression and thickening. Flat feet can pull the nerve medially and irritate it, causing it to thicken and enlarge. Morton’s neuroma disease is characterized by pain and numbness that is relieved when the shoes are removed. It was first discovered by a podiatrist. Although named “neuroma,” many scholars believe that it is not a tumor formed by an actual nerve, but rather a perineural fibroma (fibrous tissue that forms around a nerve). Symptoms: Pain in the forefoot, located between the third and fourth metatarsal bones, can be sharp or dull, worsened by weight bearing and walking, and relieved by rest. The pain may be recurrent and affect the adjacent two toes. There may also be a burning sensation, numbness, and abnormal sensation. Diagnosis: The foot has no significant deformity, erythema, inflammatory manifestations (redness, swelling, heat), or restriction of joint movement; localized pressure pain and compression of the third and fourth metatarsal heads may induce symptoms. The diagnosis of Morton’s neuroma is a soft tissue lesion; X-rays are taken mainly to exclude joint degeneration, stress fractures or local bone defects. Treatment. Treatment: Orthopedic shoe inserts and local corticosteroid injections are common, as well as wearing wide toe shoes and avoiding high heels. If the above treatments do not work, surgical treatment to remove the neuroma may be considered. However, in 25% of patients, local nerve scarring (stump neuroma) can result in recurrence of symptoms after surgery. Cryotherapy can also be applied to treat neuromas, which is based on the principle of freezing to destroy nerve axons and block neurotransmitter transmission. The temperature is usually between -50°C and -70°C. The advantage is that no residual neuromas are formed and the results are comparable to surgical excision.