Os Vesalianum Pedis in a Professional Badminton Player: A Case Report

Os vesalianum pedis (OVP) is one of the exquisite accessory ossicles adjacent to the foot's fifth metatarsal base. Though most of the OVP cases are asymptomatic, only a handful of patients who presented with lateral foot pain have been reported. A 36-year-old professional badminton player presented with swelling and tenderness in the right foot at the metatarsal base. An initial radiographic examination revealed a pseudo-Jones fracture. As a result of persistent pain and concerns regarding OVP, a reassessment of the X-ray was conducted. The examination revealed a radiolucent line with well-defined and well-corticated edges, uniformly separating the ossicle from the metatarsal in the right foot, consequently leading to the diagnosis of OVP. Following diagnosis, the patient was managed conservatively. Os vesalianum is not a common source of pain on the midfoot's lateral side. An oblique radiograph is an appreciable strategy to demonstrate the accessory ossicle. Thus, a careful clinical examination, coupled with the correlation of radiological findings, is a prerequisite to prevent misdiagnosis and overtreatment thereafter.