A 17-year-old boy presented with a six-month history of spontaneous pain and stiffness in his right index finger. On examination there was mild diffuse swelling and tenderness of the right index finger, particularly over the metacarpophalangeal and proximal interphalangeal joints. A plain radiograph provided the diagnosis of melorheostosis, clearly showing the flowing candle waxlike appearance over the second and third metacarpals and the phalanges of the index and middle fingers.
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