Navicular Stress Fractures

Navicular stress fractures are multifactorial injuries due to chronic overload on the navicular, particularly in young athletes. The navicular is subject to unique stresses and has a complex blood supply, making it susceptible to stress fractures and potentially delayed union or nonunion. Expeditiou...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Vol. 29; no. 4; p. 148
Main Authors Patel, Karan A, Christopher, Zachary K, Drakos, Mark C, O'Malley, Martin J
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 15.02.2021
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Summary:Navicular stress fractures are multifactorial injuries due to chronic overload on the navicular, particularly in young athletes. The navicular is subject to unique stresses and has a complex blood supply, making it susceptible to stress fractures and potentially delayed union or nonunion. Expeditious diagnosis is critical to prevent a delay in treatment and a poor outcome. Advanced imaging is essential in making the diagnosis and monitoring healing. Both nonsurgical and surgical treatments have demonstrated good results. Nonsurgical management consists of a period of immobilization and nonweight bearing, and surgical management typically involves open reduction and internal fixation. Patients need to be appropriately counseled regarding expectations for these challenging injuries.
ISSN:1940-5480
DOI:10.5435/JAAOS-D-20-00869