Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40836398›Full record

SynthesisJournal of foot and ankle research2025

Association of Baxter's Neuropathy and Fatty Infiltration of the Abductor Digiti Minimi Muscle on Magnetic Resonance Imaging: A Systematic Review.

John S C Chen, Mandy Abbott, Karl B Landorf

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Journal of foot and ankle research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

John S C ChenDiscipline of Podiatry, School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, La Trobe University, Victoria, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4907-9314
Mandy AbbottSchool of Health and Life Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, UK.
Karl B LandorfDiscipline of Podiatry, School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, La Trobe University, Victoria, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3882-5206

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundFatty infiltration-or fatty atrophy-of the abductor digiti minimi (ADM) muscle of the foot on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been attributed to entrapment of the first branch of the lateral plantar nerve (i.e., Baxter's neuropathy), a condition associated with plantar heel pain (PHP). The aim of this study was to investigate the evidence relating to the association between fatty infiltration of ADM and Baxter's neuropathy.

methodsThis systematic review conducted searches in MEDLINE, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, Embase and the Cochrane Library from 20

resultsFour studies (1052 participants) were identified and included in the review. Two studies were retrospective studies and two studies were cross-sectional observational studies. Only one study was rated 'good' on quality assessment. The reported prevalence of fatty infiltration of ADM on MRI was reported to be between 4% and 11% in the general population. Prevalence was also reported to be similar in people with and without generalised foot pain (approximately 8% and 6%, respectively). No studies reported prevalence in specific populations with PHP or with Baxter's neuropathy.

conclusionThe association between fatty infiltration of ADM on MRI and entrapment of the first branch of the lateral plantar nerve as part of PHP still remains unknown due to the lack of robust evidence. Additional high-quality studies investigating the association between PHP and fatty infiltration of ADM on MRI would be worthwhile to improve our understanding of the diagnostic value of MRI for this condition, which may aid decision-making for the treatment of PHP, particularly surgical treatment of Baxter's neuropathy.

Indexed as

Adipose TissueMuscle, SkeletalMuscular AtrophyNerve Compression SyndromesAdultAgedCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleFootHeelHumansMagnetic Resonance ImagingMaleMiddle AgedObservational Studies as TopicPrevalenceabductor digiti minimiBaxter's neuropathyfatty atrophyfatty infiltrationmagnetic resonance imagingplantar fasciitisplantar heel pain

Identifiers

PMID40836398
PMCPMC12367558

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.