Sensory nerve damage during surgery on the hallux.

: Division of the medial branch of the superficial peroneal nerve during surgery on the hallux can lead to unpleasant and troublesome symptoms, including neuroma formation. This study aims to show the incidence and consequences of damage to this nerve and to describe an easily applied solution. A total of 75 feet (51 randomly selected patients) was examined, with a mean follow-up of 4 years. Evidence of nerve damage was seen in 45% on clinical examination but, interestingly, only 29% were aware of their symptoms when questioned beforehand. In 3% the symptoms were severe and disabling. In view of this unexpectedly high incidence, ten cadaveric feet were dissected with a reliable surface marking being described to avoid the nerve during surgery.