Pelvic Digit: A Silent Guest in the Body

Pelvic digit is a rare congenital anomaly characterized by a finger-like bony structure near the pelvic bone, often discovered incidentally on imaging. Although typically asymptomatic, it may mimic other pathologies when symptoms arise. We report two cases: Case A involved a 14-year-old boy with post-traumatic foot pain, where imaging revealed a pelvic digit initially suspected to be an avulsion fracture; and Case B concerned a 40-year-old man with unrelated back pain, in whom the pelvic digit was found incidentally during imaging workup. In both cases, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the diagnosis. Differentiating pelvic digit from conditions such as heterotopic ossification, avulsion fractures, and osteochondroma is critical to avoid unnecessary intervention. Awareness of this rare entity can prevent misdiagnosis, especially in patients presenting with chronic hip pain or palpable bony masses.

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Publication Details

Journal
Cureus
Published
2026-08-18
DOI
https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.114744
Primary Topic
Heterotopic Ossification and Related Conditions
Type
article
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article

Pelvic Digit: A Silent Guest in the Body

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Cureus
Heterotopic Ossification and Related Conditions
article

Pelvic Digit: A Silent Guest in the Body

Soumya Hareendranath, Devendra Kumar, Mahmoud Raheem Heidous, Sehrish Mehreen Rind, Shoaib Ahmad Baig, Hanee Valiyakath
article en

Abstract

Pelvic digit is a rare congenital anomaly characterized by a finger-like bony structure near the pelvic bone, often discovered incidentally on imaging. Although typically asymptomatic, it may mimic other pathologies when symptoms arise. We report two cases: Case A involved a 14-year-old boy with post-traumatic foot pain, where imaging revealed a pelvic digit initially suspected to be an avulsion fracture; and Case B concerned a 40-year-old man with unrelated back pain, in whom the pelvic digit was found incidentally during imaging workup. In both cases, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the diagnosis. Differentiating pelvic digit from conditions such as heterotopic ossification, avulsion fractures, and osteochondroma is critical to avoid unnecessary intervention. Awareness of this rare entity can prevent misdiagnosis, especially in patients presenting with chronic hip pain or palpable bony masses.

Cureus
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Openalex Percentile: Top 8%
Heterotopic Ossification and Related Conditions
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Pelvic Digit: A Silent Guest in the Body — Soumya Hareendranath, Devendra Kumar, et al. · Cureus (2026) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS