Lateral foot pain due to os vesalianum pedis in a young football player; a case report and review of the current literature

Os vesalianum pedis is a rare accessory ossicle located at the 5th metatarsal base. This anatomic variation is typically asymptomatic and usually detected incidentally on routine foot radiographs. However, it may be a source of lateral foot pain and rarely become symptomatic following traumatic ankle injuries such as an inversion ankle sprain. To date, seven symptomatic os vesalianum pedis cases that required surgical treatment have been reported in the current literature. Herein, a 17-year-old professional football player with a symptomatic os vesalianum pedis was presented. The ossicle was surgically removed upon failure of conservative treatment. At the sixth month, the patient returned to sport without any restriction or pain. Clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment options of symptomatic os vesalianum pedis were discussed with an extensive literature review.