Metatarsalgia and neuropathies of the foot. Differential diagnosis

Metatarsalgia is the main symptom of a group of frequent ailments characterised by pain in the balls of the feet. Clinical knowledge and the availability of efficient complementary examinations are useful tools for the neurologist. To describe the range of processes related with metatarsalgia and a basic diagnostic schema that allows the aetiology to be differentiated. We perform an elementary review of the neurological anatomy of the foot and outline the different neuropathies affecting the region, as well as the extra neurological processes that could call for a differential diagnosis. Familiarity with the pathologies responsible for metatarsalgias, whether they are neurological or not, is an enriching element for the diagnosis and management of these patients, as well as for greater efficiency in the referral among the medical professionals involved.