Is Morton's neuroma in a pes planus or pes cavus foot lead to differences in pressure distribution and gait parameters?

Abstract

Morton's neuroma (MN) is a compressive neuropathy of the common digital plantar nerve causing forefoot pain. Foot posture and altered plantar pressure distribution have been identified as predispoing factors, however no studies have compared individuls with different foot postures with MN. Thus, we aimed to compare the effect of MN on spatiotemporal gait parameters and foot-pressure distribution in individuals with pes planus and pes cavus. Thirty-eight patients with unilateral MN were evaluated between June and August 2021. Nineteen patients with bilateral pes planus and 19 age and gender-matched patients with pes cavus who had no prior surgery were recruited. A Zebris FDM–THM–S treadmill system (Zebris Medical GmbH, Germany) was used to evaluate step length, stride length, step width, step time, stride time, cadence, velocity, foot-pressure distribution, force and whole stance phase, loading response, mid stance, pre-swing and swing phase percentages. There were no significant differences between the groups in spatiotemporal gait parameters (p > 0.05). Patients with pes planus displayed the following results for step length (49.36 ± 8.38), step width (9.05 ± 2.12), stance phase percentage (65.92 ± 2.11), swing phase percentage (34.08 ± 2.12), gait speed (2.96 ± 0.55), and cadence (100.57 ± 8.84). In contrast, patients with pes cavus displayed the following results for step length (49.06 ± 8.37), step width (8.10 ± 2.46), stance phase percentage (64.96 ± 1.61), swing phase percentage (34.79 ± 1.60), gait speed (2.95 ± 0.65), and cadence (99.73 ± 13.81). Foot-pressure distribution values showed no differences were detected in force, forefoot, and rearfoot pressure distribution, except for midfoot force (p < 0.05). The forefoot, midfoot, and rearfoot pressure values for the pronated group were 32.14 ± 10.90, 13.80 ± 3.03, and 22.78 ± 5.10, and for the supinated group were 33.50 ± 11.49, 14.23 ± 3.11 and 24.93 ± 6.52. MN does not significantly affect spatiotemporal gait parameters or foot-pressure distribution in patients with pes cavus or pes planus.