Metatarsal region pain

Orthopaedic causes: Morton’s metatarsalgia

• This is pain caused by interdigital neuromas
• It presents with throbbing pain which radiates into the toes
• There is tenderness below the third and fourth metatarsophalangeal joints (MPJ)
• Differential is plantar plate injury

Orthopaedic causes: others

Rheumatological causes

Soft tissue and bone causes

Investigations

Treatment of Morton’s metatarsalgia

References

1. Ashman CJ, Klecker RJ, Yu JS. Forefoot pain involving the metatarsal region: differential diagnosis with MR imaging. Radiographics 2001; 21:1425-1440.
2. Ashman CJ, Klecker RJ, Yu JS. Forefoot pain involving the metatarsal region: differential diagnosis with MR imaging. Radiographics 2001; 21:1425-1440. 
3. Hassouna H, Singh D. Morton's metatarsalgia: pathogenesis, aetiology and current management. Acta Orthop Belg 2005; 71:646-655.
4. Afonso PD, Britto SV, Spritzer CE, Martins E Souza P. Differential diagnosis of metatarsalgia. Semin Musculoskelet Radiol 2023; 27:337-350.
5. Park CH, Chang MC. Forefoot disorders and conservative treatment. Yeungnam Univ J Med 2019; 36:92-98.
6. And 3 more. Subscribe to see the full list

Related checklists

• Deep gluteal syndrome (DGS)
• Burning feet syndrome
• Nociplastic pain
• Congenital insensitivity to pain
• Facet joint pain
• Phantom limb