This is a peculiar situation that presents to my clinic from time to time. The patient complains of a painful swelling over the top of the foot. This lump feels bony and can be “unsightly”.
Metatarsal Base Bony Bossing | HC Chang Orthopaedic Surgery
A possible diagnosis is a ganglion. This is a fluid-filled sac arising next to the joint or tendon sheath.
However, in this case, the problem is bony bossing of the base of the bone of the foot (metatarsal bone).
A simple x-ray of the foot taken in the “true-lateral” view with clinch the diagnosis.
Tarso-Metatarsal Joint Osteophyte
A zoomed in view:
TMTJ Osteophytic Spurs
The treatment can be avoiding tight shoes that presses onto the bony spur or surgically remove the bony spur.
Find out more about other related ankle & foot conditions and treatments from our foot and ankle specialist in Singapore.
