Description
The specimen is a metatarsal head showing, on one side, an irregular cavity involving both bone
and cartilage with some irregular lipping at the margin. A small bony sequestrum can be seen in
the centre of the cavity.
History
This 20 year old woman presented with episodes of pain and swelling about the second
metatarsal head of the right foot. Some 6 months before, she had suffered a laceration of the sole
of the right foot. An X-ray (which accompanies the specimen) showed rarefaction of the metatarsal
head; Penicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus was recovered. The lesion settled initially but
some months later recurred and the metatarsal head was excised.