Foot: Morton neuroma: practice question

A Orthopaedics question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Orthopaedics · Foot: Morton neuroma

Sample item

A woman who wears narrow shoes has burning pain between the third and fourth toes, relieved by removing the shoe. A palpable click is felt on squeezing the forefoot. What is the diagnosis?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. Morton neuroma

Morton neuroma is a perineural fibrosis of the common digital nerve in the third web space, giving burning pain and numbness that radiate into the toes. Mulder click is elicited by squeezing the metatarsal heads. Treatment is wide shoes, injection or neurectomy.

Option by option

  • A. Morton neuroma (correct)

    Correct. Third web space pain and Mulder click indicate Morton neuroma.

  • B. Tarsal tunnel syndrome

    Tarsal tunnel syndrome causes sole paraesthesia and medial ankle tenderness.

  • C. Plantar fasciitis

    Plantar fasciitis causes heel pain.

  • D. Stress fracture of the metatarsal

    A metatarsal stress fracture causes localised bony tenderness.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More Orthopaedics questions

Questions about this Orthopaedics question

What is the answer to this Orthopaedics question?

The best answer is A, Morton neuroma. Morton neuroma is a perineural fibrosis of the common digital nerve in the third web space, giving burning pain and numbness that radiate into the toes.

Why is "Tarsal tunnel syndrome" not the answer?

Tarsal tunnel syndrome causes sole paraesthesia and medial ankle tenderness.

Why is "Plantar fasciitis" not the answer?

Plantar fasciitis causes heel pain.

Why is "Stress fracture of the metatarsal" not the answer?

A metatarsal stress fracture causes localised bony tenderness.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Foot: Morton neuroma in Orthopaedics. Mulder click is elicited by squeezing the metatarsal heads. Treatment is wide shoes, injection or neurectomy.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Foot: Morton neuroma?

Pair each fracture with its classic complication and nerve injured. Then use the flashcards and the other Orthopaedics questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.