Which option best defines a neuroma in amputees?

• A. A ball of nerve tissue that forms when the end of the nerve sprouts new axons; pressure on the limb can cause pain
• B. A ball of scar tissue
• C. A bone spur
• D. An infection at the stump

Answer: (A)

A neuroma in amputees is a mass of regenerating nerve tissue that forms at the end of a severed peripheral nerve after amputation. When the nerve is cut, the proximal end attempts to regrow by sending out axons, but they often form a tangled lump at the stump instead of reconnecting properly. This tissue is highly sensitive, and mechanical stimulation—such as pressure from a prosthetic socket or clothing—can provoke pain, making the lump feel particularly tender or agonizing with touch.

This explanation fits why the option describing a ball of nerve tissue formed by new axon growth, painful with pressure, is correct. It’s not simply scar tissue, a bone spur, or an infection: scar tissue is fibrous and not driven by nerve regeneration, a bone spur is a bony outgrowth, and infection would present with signs like redness, warmth, swelling, or systemic symptoms.