Base of the Fifth Metatarsal: Fracture or Anomaly?

Accessory ossicles are anatomical variants that may lead to foot pain, particularly in individuals with a history of trauma, and are often overlooked. We present a case of a 21-year-old male patient with a history of inversion injuries who was initially misdiagnosed with an avulsion fracture of the fifth metatarsal. Following multiple interventions for the fracture, including surgical fixation with plates, it was later discovered that he had a bilateral os vesalianum pedis, which was identified as the source of his pain. This case emphasizes the importance of accurate diagnosis and management of accessory ossicles, particularly in young athletes, to avoid unnecessary treatments.

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Publication Details

Journal
Cureus
Published
2025-11-23
DOI
https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.97610
Primary Topic
Foot and Ankle Surgery
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
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article

Base of the Fifth Metatarsal: Fracture or Anomaly?

Alan J. Silman, Anas Ahmad Siddiqui, Ali Aamir, Abdulrahman Alrujaib et al.
Cureus
Foot and Ankle Surgery
article

Base of the Fifth Metatarsal: Fracture or Anomaly?

Alan J. Silman, Anas Ahmad Siddiqui, Ali Aamir, Abdulrahman Alrujaib, Leen Al Zayer
article en

Abstract

Accessory ossicles are anatomical variants that may lead to foot pain, particularly in individuals with a history of trauma, and are often overlooked. We present a case of a 21-year-old male patient with a history of inversion injuries who was initially misdiagnosed with an avulsion fracture of the fifth metatarsal. Following multiple interventions for the fracture, including surgical fixation with plates, it was later discovered that he had a bilateral os vesalianum pedis, which was identified as the source of his pain. This case emphasizes the importance of accurate diagnosis and management of accessory ossicles, particularly in young athletes, to avoid unnecessary treatments.

CureusVol. 17(11)
Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (IE), Defence Terrain Research Laboratory (IN)
Openalex Percentile: Top 54%
Foot and Ankle Surgery
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