BACKGROUND: As clinical suspicion increases and radiographic evaluation improves, navicular stress fractures are becoming a more recognized injury. To date, there is a small volume of literature examining these stress fractures, particularly as it pertains to outcomes of surgical management. PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical and computed tomography (CT) outcomes of surgically treated navicular stress fractures. STUDY DESIGN: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. METHODS: Ten navicular stress fractures in 10 patients were available for follow-up at an average of 42.4 months postoperatively (range, 16.8-79.9). These patients underwent a clinical examination and a CT scan of their operatively treated foot. The American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) and SF-36 scores were completed for each fracture at the time of examination. The CT scans were blindly evaluated for bony union. RESULTS: According to the CT scan evaluation, 8 of 10 navicula (80%) had gone on to union. Clinical outcome scores on all patients were an average AOFAS hindfoot score of 88.5 and an average SF-36 score of 88.3. The feet with united fractures had an average AOFAS score of 92.1 (range, 83-100) and an average SF-36 score of 91.9 (range, 79-98). The 2 patients with nonunions had AOFAS scores of 74 and 74 and SF-36 scores of 70 and 78, respectively. Both nonunions were complete, displaced fractures on preoperative imaging. CONCLUSION: In our series of operatively treated navicular stress fractures, 80% went on to union, as verified by CT scan. Patients with united fractures had a clinically significant improvement in outcome, with higher AOFAS and SF-36 scores as compared with the 2 patients with nonunions. Patients with complete, displaced navicular stress fractures may be more likely to develop nonunions.
BACKGROUND: As clinical suspicion increases and radiographic evaluation improves, navicular stress fractures are becoming a more recognized injury. To date, there is a small volume of literature examining these stress fractures, particularly as it pertains to outcomes of surgical management. PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical and computed tomography (CT) outcomes of surgically treated navicular stress fractures. STUDY DESIGN: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. METHODS: Ten navicular stress fractures in 10 patients were available for follow-up at an average of 42.4 months postoperatively (range, 16.8-79.9). These patients underwent a clinical examination and a CT scan of their operatively treated foot. The American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) and SF-36 scores were completed for each fracture at the time of examination. The CT scans were blindly evaluated for bony union. RESULTS: According to the CT scan evaluation, 8 of 10 navicula (80%) had gone on to union. Clinical outcome scores on all patients were an average AOFAS hindfoot score of 88.5 and an average SF-36 score of 88.3. The feet with united fractures had an average AOFAS score of 92.1 (range, 83-100) and an average SF-36 score of 91.9 (range, 79-98). The 2 patients with nonunions had AOFAS scores of 74 and 74 and SF-36 scores of 70 and 78, respectively. Both nonunions were complete, displaced fractures on preoperative imaging. CONCLUSION: In our series of operatively treated navicular stress fractures, 80% went on to union, as verified by CT scan. Patients with united fractures had a clinically significant improvement in outcome, with higher AOFAS and SF-36 scores as compared with the 2 patients with nonunions. Patients with complete, displaced navicular stress fractures may be more likely to develop nonunions.
Authors: Bryan Vopat; Brendin R Beaulieu-Jones; Gregory Waryasz; Kevin J McHale; George Sanchez; Catherine A Logan; James M Whalen; Christopher W DiGiovanni; Matthew T Provencher Journal: Orthop J Sports Med Date: 2017-08-18
Authors: Ahmed Khalil Attia; Karim Mahmoud; Jason Bariteau; Sameh A Labib; Christopher W DiGiovanni; Pieter D'Hooghe Journal: Int Orthop Date: 2021-08-20 Impact factor: 3.075