A wide variety of musculoskeletal conditions can present to the emergency department. In addition to trauma and internal derangement, infectious diseases of the musculoskeletal system are a common occurrence, especially in centers with a large diabetic patient population. These infections can involve the superficial soft tissues, as in cellulitis, or can extend to the deep soft tissues, bones, and joints. Of these, necrotizing fasciitis is the most feared and is a surgical emergency. If left untreated, some of these relatively nonaggressive soft-tissue infections can progress and result in abscess, osteomyelitis, and/or septic arthritis. Bursitis, presenting with pain or as a palpable abnormality, is another condition that may present emergently. This is usually caused by an underlying inflammatory process or repetitive microtrauma, although it could also have an infectious etiology. An embedded foreign body from recent minor trauma is an infrequent complaint from affected patients. Imaging examinations can determine if a retained foreign body is present and allow for preoperative planning.