Introduction:

when faced with a chronic digital injury, the differential diagnosis between osteomyelitis or primary tumor is raised. Coexistence between osteomyelitis and epidermoid bone cyst is not uncommon.

Material and methods:

in this article, we describe two cases of epidermoid cysts in distal phalanx of the hand associated with osteomyelitis and a review of the literature is presented.

Results:

both osteomyelitis and epidermoid bone cyst have been related to the presence of previous trauma at the site of the lesion, nail alterations and chronic phlogotic signs, so it is important to reach a diagnosis of certainty through an anatomopathological study and to perform a good surgical debridement to ensure the healing of both entities.

Conclusions:

surgical debridement associated with curettage and filling of the bone defect with bone substitute with antibiotic is a good therapeutic option in the treatment of these lesions.