A soccer player with a sore toe - Recognizing subungual osteochondromas

In contrast to usual osteochondromas, subungual osteochondromas may arise f ollowing trauma rather than from aberrations in bone development. The rarit y of subungual osteochondromas frequently leads to misdiagnosis and undertr eatment, especially as a sports injury. When patients have nail-bed bruisin g, x-rays can rule out or confirm bone involvement, as in our case of a 20- year-old soccer player who had increasing pain in his left great toe. Treat ment consists of radical, anatomic resection of symptomatic osteochondromas with periosteal realignment to prevent recurrence, Functional outcome afte r resection is excellent.