[A boy with an abnormal hallux].

An eleven-year-old boy was seen by the general practioner due to a painfull hallux. The diagnosis unguis incarnatus was made. Therefore, a partial nail extraction was performed. Unfortunately, the patient still had complaints of a painful hallux and was forwarded to the surgical outpatient clinic. We saw a round, hard and benign tumor on the lateral side of the nail (picture 1). We performed a partial nail extraction as well. Due to persistence complaints and the abnormal course and X-ray was performed. On the X-ray an exostosis was seen (picture 2). This confirmed the diagnosis: subungual exostosis. It is a rare clinical manifestation and has a long delay up until diagnosis. It is a benign bone tumor and often seen on the hallux. A radical excision must be performed.