Osteoid osteoma of the lateral cuneiform bone: Presentation following trauma

Osteoid osteomas are not uncommon, benign bone tumours which have well-defined clinical, radiological and pathological characteristics. These tumours can potentially affect any bone in the body, but show a predilection for long tubular bones. The clinical presentation can easily be confusing, if the site in question is rare and the presentation atypical. Lesions occurring in the foot often pose particular problems in diagnosis, often leading to delays in treatment. We present the case of 38-year-old male who presented with persistent post-traumatic foot pain. The subsequent diagnosis of osteoid osteoma of the lateral cuneiform bone was delayed for three years by a combination of atypical history and a very unusual location. This case highlights the need for a high index of suspicion and a low threshold for appropriate imaging in cases of persistent unexplained post-traumatic foot pain.