The Pelvic Digit: A Rare Congenital Anomaly as a Cause of Hip Pain.
BACKGROUND
The pelvic digit or pelvic rib is an unusual congenital anomaly with a finger or rib like bone formation in soft tissues around normal pelvic skeleton. This is a benign lesion and mostly an Incidental finding on radiographs. Most reported cases are asymptomatic and do not require intervention. We report a case of symptomatic pelvic rib that required surgical excision.


METHODS
A 57-year-old man presented with a long history of pain and functional limitation in his right hip. On plain radiographs a fusiform bony structure adjacent to the acetabulum was noted. The imaging tests (MRI and CT) suggested the diagnosis of pelvic digit. We performed surgical excision of the lesion through anterior Smith-Peterson approach. The histopathology showed presence of corticomedullary structure. After surgery the patient's symptoms were relieved.


CONCLUSIONS
It is important to recognize this lesion on plain radiographs and to confirm by CT scan and make differential diagnosis. In the majority of cases the pelvic digit is asymptomatic and no treatments is needed. However in cases where symptoms can be attributed to pelvic digit an excision will relieve the pain and disability.
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Trauma Galdakao-Usansolo Hospital. Barrio Labeaga s/n 48960 Usansolo (Vizcaya) Spain.
Jesús
J
Moreta-Suárez
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Trauma Galdakao-Usansolo Hospital. Barrio Labeaga s/n 48960 Usansolo (Vizcaya) Spain.
Oskar Sáez
OS
de Ugarte-Sobrón
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Trauma Galdakao-Usansolo Hospital. Barrio Labeaga s/n 48960 Usansolo (Vizcaya) Spain.
Alberto
A
Sánchez-Sobrino
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Trauma Galdakao-Usansolo Hospital. Barrio Labeaga s/n 48960 Usansolo (Vizcaya) Spain.
José Luis
JL
Martínez-De Los Mozos
Pelvic digit; bone growth and development; iliac rib; pelvic rib