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Published on: April 26, 2024
Safety and Efficacy of Percutaneous Morton Neuroma Cryoneurolysis Under Ultrasound Guidance
Benjamin Moulin1, Giorgio Angelopoulos2, Jean Luc Sarrazin2
1From the Interventional Radiology Unit, Imaging Department (B.M., G.A., J.L.S., O.V., M.D.P., A.H.), From the Orthopedic Surgery Unit (S.R), and From the Anesthesiology Department (TG), American Hospital of Paris, 55 Boulevard du Chateau, 92200, Neuilly-sur-Seine, France. b.moulin00@gmail.com.
Purpose:
To assess the technical success, safety and early efficacy of Morton neuroma (MN) cryoneurolysis.
Materials And Methods:
Retrospective review of 54 consecutive patients with MN treated with cryoneurolysis after failure of conservative treatment, from September 2022 to June 2023. Outcomes measurements included technical success (defined a successful ultrasound-guided placement of the cryoprobe), procedural safety according to Cirse classification and change in 6 months post-procedure by pain numeric rating scale (pNRS).
Results:
A total of 59 MN were treated during 55 procedures. Mean procedure duration was 47 min, all patients were discharged 2 h after the intervention. Technical success was 98.1%. No Cirse grade 3, 4 or 5 complication was reported. Three grade 2 complication occurred, including two chilblain-type lesions and one bone insufficiency fracture. At 6 months post-procedure, pNRS score was significantly decreased (2.7 ± 2.2 vs 7.1 ± 1.1) (p < 0.0001), with a mean score decrease of 4.1points. Thirty-two patients (60.4%) reported a complete pain relief, 15 (28.3%) a partial pain relief and 6 (11.3%) no pain relief, or increased pain.
Conclusion:
Cryoneurolysis seems to be safe for the treatment of Morton neuroma. Six-month pain relief is promising and needs to be confirmed at long term.
