{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,22]],"date-time":"2025-10-22T00:50:05Z","timestamp":1761094205424,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":21,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,21]],"date-time":"2025-10-21T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1761004800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Reports"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background and Objectives: The anesthetic nerve block test is a surgical technique that can assist in the differential diagnosis of forefoot pain. The MTP joint, enclosed by its capsule, may act as a sealed cavity with predictable contrast dispersion, whereas the IM space, lacking clear boundaries and containing bursae and the plantar digital nerve, favors diffuse spread. Due to the high rate of false positives in suspected cases of Morton\u2019s neuroma with the anesthetic block current procedure in the intermetatarsal space, the aim of this study was to propose an alternative to the current procedure. Material and Methods: Six fresh cadaveric feet were used. Under ultrasound guidance, the 2nd\u20134th MTP joints received stepwise intra-articular injections of radiopaque contrast. The third common digital nerve was injected within the third intermetatarsal space. Standard radiographs were obtained to assess distribution and proximal spread. Results: A volume of 0.3 mL was sufficient to fully reach the intra-articular cavity and potentially induce effective localized anesthesia. When the third common digital plantar nerve was injected in an anatomically healthy region, the contrast medium showed a proximal diffusion pattern extending up to the mid-diaphyseal level of the third and fourth metatarsal bones. On radiographs, the intra-articular infiltration lines appear sharply demarcated, supporting the interpretation of the metatarsophalangeal joint as a sealed compartment. Conclusions: Low intra-articular anesthetic volumes may yield targeted effects, while Morton\u2019s neuroma injections spread proximally, risking loss of diagnostic specificity; this technique may improve decision-making accuracy and reduce failures.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/reports8040211","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,21]],"date-time":"2025-10-21T14:24:02Z","timestamp":1761056642000},"page":"211","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Anatomical Validation of a Selective Anesthetic Block Test to Differentiate Morton\u2019s Neuroma from Mechanical Metatarsalgia"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"8","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0009-3698-0040","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Gabriel","family":"Camu\u00f1as-Nieves","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Cl\u00ednica Vitruvio, C\/Mar\u00eda de Guzm\u00e1n 47, 28003 Madrid, Spain"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Hector","family":"P\u00e9rez-S\u00e1nchez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Cl\u00ednica Vitruvio, C\/Mar\u00eda de Guzm\u00e1n 47, 28003 Madrid, Spain"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2926-8572","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Alejandro","family":"Fern\u00e1ndez-Gibello","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Cl\u00ednica Vitruvio, C\/Mar\u00eda de Guzm\u00e1n 47, 28003 Madrid, Spain"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Simone","family":"Moroni","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Podiatry Department, San Vicente M\u00e1rtir University, Pl. Almoina 3, 46003 Valencia, Spain"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7485-471X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Felice","family":"Galluccio","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Fisiotech Lab Studio, Rheumatology and Pain Management, 50136 Firenze, Italy"},{"name":"Center for Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine (CRAPM), Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11696, Taiwan"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Mario","family":"Fajardo-P\u00e9rez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Ultradissection Group, 28029 Madrid, Spain"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1797-910X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Laura","family":"P\u00e9rez-Palma","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Clinic Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08907 l\u2019Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5536-2509","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Alfonso","family":"Mart\u00ednez-Nova","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Nursing, University of Extremadura, 10600 Plasencia, Spain"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,21]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"94","DOI":"10.1186\/s13244-025-01945-3","article-title":"Radiological approach to metatarsalgia in current practice: An educational review","volume":"16","author":"Palka","year":"2025","journal-title":"Insights Imaging"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1857","DOI":"10.1007\/s00264-013-2002-6","article-title":"Surgical treatment of Morton\u2019s neuroma: Clinical results after open excision","volume":"37","author":"Kasparek","year":"2013","journal-title":"Int. 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