The Intermetatarsal Nerve: A Microscopic Evaluation ∗

Abstract

Microscopic evaluation of the interdigital neuroma is difficult because the appearance of the normal nerve has not been described precisely. In an effort to characterize the normal interdigital nerve, 104 nerves were removed at autopsy from the intermetatarsal spaces of 14 women who were more than 48 years old. A positive relationship between perineurial width and internal diameter of the nerve fascicle in web spaces 2, 3, and 4 was defined. In addition, the number and the diameter of blood vessels had a positive correlation in all web spaces. These measurements should be of help in the objective differentiation of the common interdigital neuroma from the normal interdigital nerve.

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