Lyrtzis Christos, Mpei Dimitra, St John Kallisti, Paraskevas George, Lazaridis Nikolaos
Department of Anatomy and Surgical Anatomy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, GRC.
School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, GRC.
Cureus. 2025 May 25;17(5):e84771. doi: 10.7759/cureus.84771. eCollection 2025 May.
Accessory or supernumerary bones are bones that are not normally present in the body but can be found as an anatomical variant. While hallucal sesamoids are common, lesser metatarsal sesamoids are uncommon and often underreported. These ossicles develop through endochondral ossification and aid biomechanics by enhancing muscle function and reducing tendon friction. This report presents the first documented case of bilateral multiple lesser metatarsal sesamoids involving several metatarsophalangeal joints, supported by radiologic and clinical correlation. A 48-year-old woman presented with bilateral plantar foot pain, exacerbated by weight-bearing activities. Radiographs and computed tomography (CT) confirmed multiple lesser metatarsal sesamoids bilaterally, along with ossa peronea. Conservative management, including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, footwear modifications, and physical therapy, led to symptom improvement after six months. Lesser metatarsal sesamoids are usually asymptomatic but can contribute to metatarsalgia. Recognizing these ossicles as anatomical variants is essential to avoid misdiagnosis and unnecessary interventions. This case underscores their potential role in forefoot pain and diagnostic challenges.
副骨或多余骨是指身体中通常不存在但可作为解剖变异而发现的骨骼。虽然拇趾籽骨很常见,但较小的跖籽骨并不常见且常常报告不足。这些小骨通过软骨内成骨发育,并通过增强肌肉功能和减少肌腱摩擦来辅助生物力学。本报告展示了首例经记录的双侧多个较小跖籽骨累及多个跖趾关节的病例,并辅以放射学和临床相关性研究。一名48岁女性因负重活动而出现双侧足底疼痛。X线片和计算机断层扫描(CT)证实双侧存在多个较小跖籽骨以及腓骨小骨。包括非甾体类抗炎药、鞋具改良和物理治疗在内的保守治疗在六个月后使症状得到改善。较小的跖籽骨通常无症状,但可导致跖痛症。将这些小骨识别为解剖变异对于避免误诊和不必要的干预至关重要。该病例强调了它们在前足疼痛中的潜在作用以及诊断挑战。