[Subungual exostosis in a 14 years old boy]

Subungual exostosis is a benign bony outgrowth surrounded by a fibrocartilaginous capsule that mainly affects hallux terminal phalanx with subungual or periungular localization, and that clinically determines variable degree of nail plate or periungular soft tissues alterations, respectively, It is uncommon in childhood and more frequent in females. Clinical suspicion is confirmed by the radiographic finding of a distinct trabecular bone growth arising from the dorsal aspect of the phalanx of the affected finger, on the lateral incidence. Curettage or surgical excision is the treatment of choice. We report a case of subungual exostosis located at the hallux in a 14-year-old boy suffering from subungual exostosis of the hallux that presented the characteristic triad of this entity: subungular tumor with nail plate deformity, digital pain and radiologic typical findings.