Comparison of Alcohol and Steroid Injection for Treating Morton's Neuroma
Status:
Unknown status
Trial end date:
1969-12-31
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Interdigital neuroma is a painful forefoot disorder characterized by plantar pain and toe
paresthesias thought to result from entrapment of the interdigital nerve by the overlying
transverse metatarsal ligament. Multiple treatments have been recommended for this condition
and range from modification of shoe wear to surgical excision of the painful nerve. Serial
ethanol injection therapy has been reported to be an effective alternative to surgical
excision. However, despite wide adoption of this treatment, no randomized, double blinded,
placebo-controlled study exists to verify the efficacy of this treatment in comparison to
longer standing similar therapies, such as corticosteroid injection.
120 patients from one Orthopaedic group's foot and ankle offices with single foot neuromas
and no previous history of neuroma or foot disorder treatment will be selected for the study.
These patients will be randomized to three treatments, specifically lidocaine injection,
corticosteroid injection, or ethanol injection. Outcomes will be assessed at 3, 6 and 12
month time points using validated questionnaires as well as a non-validated disease specific
questionnaire. Primary endpoint will be graded change in the physical function portion of the
SF-36 form. Secondary endpoints will be the graded change in the McGill Short Form for Pain
and ultimate satisfaction with treatment as assessed by a non-validated questionnaire
designed for Morton's neuroma symptoms.