Dysplasia epiphysealis hemimelica of talus mimicking posterior ankle impingement syndrome in a young male: a case report with review of the literature

Abstract

Dysplasia epiphysealis hemimelica is a rare skeletal developmental disorder representing an osteocartilaginous tumor arising from 1 or more epiphyses during childhood. We report a case of a young male who presented with complaints of pain and swelling in the posteromedial aspect of the left ankle with the clinical diagnosis of posterior impingement syndrome. Imaging studies, including radiography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging, suggested the possibility of localized juxta-articular dysplasia epiphysealis hemimelica arising from the talus. The patient was successfully treated by surgical excision. The postoperative histologic findings were consistent with osteochondroma. This case report emphasizes the possibility of dysplasia epiphysealis hemimelica in the differential diagnosis of impingement syndromes around the ankle. The aim of the present study was to familiarize clinicians with this rare entity, because the number of documented cases has been increasing.