Enchondromas are benign tumors that form in the cartilage found in the bone underneath the toenail. These tumors can also affect the tiny long bones of the hands, the thighbone, the upper arm bone and the tibia. These tumors are usually painless but if they grow too large and begin destroying the bone tissue then surgery has to be considered. These tumors affect both men and women and are more common between the ages of 10 and 20 years.

What Causes Enchondromas?

How enchondromas are caused is a mystery, but:

• some medical professionals feel that they could be a persistent growth of the original embryonic cartilage
• another school of thought believes that enchondromas occur as an overgrowth of the cartilage that lines the ends of the bones.

Symptoms of Enchondromas:

Enchondromas are usually painless, but some symptoms could be due to:

• the affected digits becoming enlarged and deformed
• fractures or pain in the hands or feet due to the steady growth of the tumor causing them to become weak

Diagnosis and Treatment of Enchondromas:

As there are no real symptoms, the only way enchondromas can be diagnosed are during a routine physical exam, or if the tumors cause fractures of the hands or feet which are discovered in the x-rays.

At Syracuse Podiatry, our experienced board certified podiatrist, Dr. Ryan L. D’Amico, will not rest until he has diagnosed the problem. Dr. D’Amico specializes in reconstructive foot and ankle surgery and all pedal problems of the serious or regular type. He will evaluate the medical history and physical examination results of his patients before making any decision to perform surgery. Our office is located in Fayetteville, NY, serving the Syracuse area. If you have a toe that is enlarged or fractures easily, there is every possibility that you could be suffering from enchondromas. Browse our website and schedule an appointment with our podiatrist at (315) 446-3668.