Three types of navicular fractures generally occur: Avulsion fractures, high-energy fractures with other associated injuries, and stress fractures.

Avulsion fractures can generally be treated nonoperatively, except in those cases in which the fragment is large enough to warrant open reduction and internal fixation. These injuries are by far the least severe of the 3.

High-energy injuries will require a plan that takes into account all associated injuries, understanding that many of the joints in the hindfoot and midfoot work in tandem, such that injury to one will directly affect the other. Some joints may need to be temporarily spanned in order to provide sufficient stability for the injury to heal. As a result, stiffness is often a concern after these injuries.

Many stress fractures can be managed nonoperatively, although some will require surgery. Vigilance is required either way, as it can be difficult to get long-term nonunions to heal.

There are rarer injuries still, and they will rarely occur in isolation.

Injury will not infrequently lead to insufficiency of the lateral column of the foot, such that treatment will often require some distraction to regain that length.

Navicular injuries include avulsion fractures of the tuberosity and fractures of the body, either extra- or intraarticular.

Avulsion fractures most commonly occur dorsally, although they can occur anywhere around the navicular. Medial avulsions may be caused by the posterior tibial tendon or the plantar calcaneonavicular (spring) ligament, while most others will be capsular avulsion fractures. An avulsion fracture typically involves a low-energy twisting injury with pain at the medial midfoot and an inability to bear weight afterward.

Navicular body fractures are less common than avulsion fractures, although they are often greater in severity. They can result from a direct mechanism (“crush”) or an indirect mechanism (axial load through foot). Navicular body fractures may present with similar complaints, although a higher energy mechanism may result in a more diffuse midfoot injury in addition to the navicular fracture, and symptoms may correspond to the extent of the injury.

Physical examination will reveal varying degrees of edema, ecchymosis, and tenderness over the proximal midfoot. Patients will often have significant pain with resisted adduction of the foot. Diffuse edema and ecchymosis about the foot do not negate the possibility of navicular injury; rather, they may be indicative of multiple midfoot injuries.

Radiographs should include anteroposterior, oblique, and lateral foot radiographs. Navicular avulsion fractures will demonstrate a fleck of avulsed cortex, which is sometimes visualized on only 1 view (increasing the possibility of the injury being missed). This should be differentiated from an accessory navicular, which will be well corticated. Computed tomography (CT) scans can be obtained to further delineate anatomy and pick up subtle findings when plain films fail to show adequate detail.

Classification of navicular fractures is as follows.

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  Type 1: Transverse coronal plane fracture

  
  
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  Type 2: Sagittal plane fracture that often runs dorsolateral to plantarmedial with medial fragment often subluxed and lateral fragment often comminuted

  
  
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  Type 3: Fractures with central or lateral comminution and associated with lateral displacement of forefoot &/or occasionally disruption of calcaneocuboid joint or fracture of cuboid

Dorsal avulsion fractures can usually be treated similar to an ankle sprain with progressive weight bearing and functional rehabilitation. Rarely, the avulsed fragment may either include a significant enough portion of the articular surface or remain symptomatic for long enough that operative intervention may be warranted.

Nondisplaced navicular body fractures are treated with limited weight bearing (usually non-weight bearing) and immobilization in a well-padded short leg splint or cast. Avulsion of the posterior tibial tendon, however, requires surgical correction.

Type 1 displaced navicular body fractures can be reduced and fixed through a dorsomedial exposure with lag screw fixation from dorsal to plantar.

Types 2 and 3 fractures require more extensive surgical intervention. The medial fragment, which is often subluxed, must be reduced. An aid to reduction is a medially placed minidistractor. This may also restore the alignment of the medial border of the foot in type 3 fractures.

Medial to lateral lag screws may be used when there is no lateral fragment comminution. Screws may also maintain reduction by being placed across the naviculocuneiform joints or into the cuboid. Temporary Kirschner wire fixation from the navicular into the talar head may also prove helpful in difficult injuries. Temporary bridge plating across the medial midfoot can be used as an aid to maintaining reduction.

Non-weight bearing is maintained for up to 12 weeks.

Depending on the individual injury, range of motion exercises may be started at the 2-week mark, although some injuries may require longer periods of immobilization. Temporary Kirschner wires, if necessary, are removed at ~ 6 weeks.

Removal of implants spanning multiple joints after severe injuries should not occur until healing is complete. Implants spanning naviculocuneiform joints need not be removed, but preservation of motion at the talonavicular joint is desirable.

There is little in the literature on the results of navicular fractures, as they are relatively uncommon injuries. High-energy navicular fractures lead to a high rate of secondary arthrosis in the hindfoot and have been associated with significant complications in one study. Athletes with navicular fractures in the NFL combine had a greater probability of not being drafted and not competing in at least 2 NFL seasons compared to matched controls.