Which is the safer way to do surgery for a painful neuroma in the foot–from the top of the foot or from the bottom?

Time and experience indicate that working from the top of the foot has fewer complications. And the results tend to be better.

By having surgery through the top of the foot, most patients can start to put weight on the foot right away after surgery. Patients also have fewer problems with the wound.

In a recent study, the authors reported that neuroma surgery from the top of the foot had a mere three percent rate of problems, whereas surgery done through the sole of the foot caused complications up to 36 percent of the time.