FOOT & ANKLE Copyright © 1981 by The American Orthopaedic Foot Society, Inc. Metatarsalgia: A Clinical Review of Diagnosis and Management

Metatarsalgia is the symptom of pain in the region of the metatarsophalangeal articulations. In a careful analysis of 98 patients who presented with complaints of forefoot pain, 23 distinct diagnoses were made as to the etiology of their pain. These diagnoses were grouped under pri-mary metatarsalgia, secondary metatarsalgia, and pain under the forefoot. Specialized tests, such as stance phase cholesterol-crystal force plate analysis and intraar-ticular or digital nerve block, are helpful in determining the diagnosis and the likelihood of effective treatment