The navicular is the keystone of the medial longitudinal arch, articulating with the talus behind and the three cuneiform bones in front. Its tuberosity is a palpable medial landmark and the insertion of the tibialis posterior tendon, a common site of stress fracture in runners.
| Articulations |
|
|---|---|
| Landmarks |
|
| Ossification | Endochondral ossification from a single centre appearing at age 3, with the navicular being the last tarsal bone to ossify. |
The navicular tuberosity is the main insertion of the tibialis posterior tendon and is the site of the accessory navicular (os naviculare accessorium), present in roughly 10 to 15 percent of people and sometimes painful in flat-footed individuals. Navicular stress fractures in sprinting and jumping athletes occur in the relatively avascular central third and cause vague dorsal midfoot pain. They are easily missed on plain radiographs, so CT or MRI is used for diagnosis. Non-displaced fractures are treated with about 6 weeks of strict non-weight-bearing in a cast or boot, while complete or displaced fractures and non-unions usually need screw fixation. Kohler disease in young children is self-limiting, whereas Mueller-Weiss syndrome in adults can cause progressive collapse.
A high-risk stress fracture in sprinting and jumping athletes through the poorly vascularised central third, often missed on plain films; CT confirms it, and treatment is strict non-weight-bearing or screw fixation.
Avascular necrosis of the navicular in young children, causing midfoot pain and a limp, which usually resolves with rest.
Spontaneous osteonecrosis and collapse of the navicular in adults, producing chronic midfoot pain and deformity.
This website uses cookies to enhance your experience. Some are essential for site functionality, while others help us analyze and improve your usage experience. Please review your options and make your choice.
If you are under 16 years old, please ensure that you have received consent from your parent or guardian for any non-essential cookies.
Your privacy is important to us. You can adjust your cookie settings at any time. For more information about how we use data, please read our privacy policy. You may change your preferences at any time by clicking on the settings button below.
Note that if you choose to disable some types of cookies, it may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer.
Some required resources have been blocked, which can affect third-party services and may cause the site to not function properly.
This website uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience and ensure the site functions properly. By continuing to use this site, you acknowledge and accept our use of cookies.
