Scientific Pursuit of Neuroma Management

Management of symptomatic neuroma remains a significant challenge for clinicians, and there is no gold standard for treatment. Its unpredictable occurrence, heterogenous patient populations, differences in the human and animal experiences of pain, and difficulties in establishing a standardized study model contribute to these challenges. However, significant innovations have occurred over the last three decades due to the collaborative efforts of the scientists and clinicians charged with the scientific pursuit of neuroma management. In this chapter, we explore the benefits and challenges in developing animal models for symptomatic neuroma as well as commonly employed outcome measures. The scientific bases of surgical treatments for neuroma are summarized along with identification of gaps in our current understanding.