🏆 Leading centre: Cochin is one of the few centres in France to treat Morton's neuroma by percutaneous cryoablation, and is among the most experienced in this technique. It is performed in collaboration with the Musculoskeletal Radiology Department (Radiology B, Prof. Feydy), and offered to patients who have not responded to conventional treatments.
What is Morton's neuroma?
Morton's neuroma (or Morton's metatarsalgia) is a painful forefoot condition caused by thickening of a common plantar digital nerve, most often between the 3rd and 4th metatarsals, less commonly between the 2nd and 3rd. It causes burning or electric-shock pain radiating towards the toes, worsened by walking and wearing narrow shoes.
It is thought to affect 1 to 3% of the adult population, with a clear female predominance (7:1). Long considered a tumour, Morton's neuroma is in fact a fibrotic thickening of the nerve with a significant inflammatory and vascular component.
Why cryoablation?
Percutaneous cryoablation of Morton's neuroma is an image-guided destruction technique, based on the same principle as other soft-tissue cryoablations. Using extreme cold (around −40°C), it destroys the nerve fibres responsible for the pain, without surgery.
- Minimally invasive treatment, day case, no scar
- Precise targeting of the neuroma
- An alternative to repeated corticosteroid injections or surgery
- Encouraging results on pain and quality of life
Who is this method for?
- Symptomatic Morton's neuroma confirmed by MRI or ultrasound
- Disabling forefoot pain resistant to usual treatments (orthotics, injections, physiotherapy)
- Patients wishing to avoid surgery or with contraindications to it
- After a podiatry or orthopaedic opinion
Prior work-up
- Foot MRI or ultrasound confirming the neuroma (size, location)
- Documented failure of at least 2 conservative treatments
- Vascular work-up if arterial risk factors are present
How does it work?
Prior consultation with clinical assessment and imaging (MRI or ultrasound)
Day-case procedure: local anaesthesia at the puncture site in the foot
The cryoablation needle is positioned in contact with the neuroma under imaging guidance (ultrasound and/or CT)
One or more freeze–thaw cycles destroy the nerve responsible for the pain
Total duration: about 45 minutes
Short monitoring and return home the same day
What is the recovery like?
- Walking is resumed immediately with a wide shoe
- Mild discomfort in the first few days
- Gradual improvement over 4 to 8 weeks
- Clinical follow-up at 1 and 3 months
- Rare complications: haematoma, transient paraesthesia
🏠 Home recovery support — Midiperf Santé
We work in partnership with Midiperf Santé, a home-care provider, for a smooth recovery at home after your procedure. A dedicated nurse contacts you before discharge, visits your home on day 1 with all necessary equipment, and follows up within 48 hours. 24/7 on-call service if needed.
🔗 midiperf-sante-34.fr →📄 Patient information sheet
⚡ Morton's neuroma — At a glance
Morton's neuroma is a thickening of tissue around a nerve between the toes, causing burning forefoot pain. Image-guided treatment (injection, alcohol ablation or cryoablation) offers an alternative to surgery.
| Criterion | Data |
|---|---|
| Treatment options | Targeted injection, alcohol ablation, cryoablation — chosen based on size and prior response to treatment |
| Anaesthesia / stay | Local — day case |
| Advantage over surgery | Avoids surgical incision and the risk of permanent numbness or painful scarring |
| Cost | Covered by French national health insurance at Cochin AP-HP — no out-of-pocket fees |
Data validated by the team of Prof. Anthony Dohan, Department of Interventional Radiology, Cochin Hospital AP-HP, Université Paris Cité.
✅ Covered by French National Health Insurance. No additional fees in our centre.
❓ Frequently asked questions
✓ Why this page is trustworthy
Written by the Interventional Radiology team at Cochin Hospital AP-HP, Université Paris Cité. Medically reviewed by an interventional radiologist of the department. Last updated: August 2026.