Benign growths in the foot may cause a condition known as “neuroma” that can be treated by triple board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon, John R. Barbour, MD, FACS. Dr. Barbour is a fellowship trained hand and peripheral nerve specialist who offers neuroma surgery for the residents of the Washington, DC, area, including Fairfax, Arlington, Alexandria and surrounding communities in Virginia.
Neuromas/Cut Nerve Endings
Trauma to peripheral nerves can cause scarring or interruption of a nerve and lead to exposed nerve endings beneath the skin. The ends of cut nerves can become extremely painful when tapped.
The painful neuroma is a debilitating result of nerve injury and unfortunately the exact pathophysiology of this condition is poorly understood. After sharp trauma to a peripheral nerve, as nerve ends try to reconnect with the other exposed end and “find” the distal nerve, scarring can lead to the development of a painful neuroma. Painful neuromas can even be associated with blunt trauma or retraction of a nerve when the nerve is not actually divided. A number of unknown factors make certain patients and certain conditions more susceptible to neuroma formation. In addition, certain nerves such as the superficial radial nerve are more prone to the development of a painful neuroma. As a peripheral nerve specialist, Dr. Barbour believes that surgical treatment of cutaneous neuromas is important because they can be quite debilitating and painful, often preventing patients from pursuing their normal daily activities. There are a number of approaches to the painful neuroma, and the treatment plan must be tailored to the individual patient.
As the Director of the Georgetown University Peripheral Nerve Surgery Institute, Dr. Barbour consults with a trained group of neurologists, physical and occupational therapists, prosthetists, rehabilitation physicians, and specialized nurses in the diagnosis and treatment of these conditions. General strategies for treatment of painful cut nerve endings are to either remove the neuroma and move the normal end of the nerve to a deeper place where it will not be stimulated or to give the neuroma somewhere to grow towards with a nerve graft or a nerve transfer.
Contact Dr. Barbour today to schedule a detailed consultation.
