The Operative Management of Navicular Stress Fractures in Adolescence / 대한족부족관절학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of surgical treatment in adolescent patients suffering from navicular stress fracture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 11 adolescent patients aged 14 to 19, who underwent an operation for navicular stress fracture between 2005 and 2008 were recruited. Clinical outcomes were evaluated by the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) midfoot score and visual analogue scale (VAS) score. RESULTS: The mean VAS score before the operation was 7.7. A score of 2.9 was confirmed at final follow up after the operation. The mean final follow-up period was 22.1 months. There was a statistically significant improvement in the VAS score between before and after the operation (p=0.01), and similarly, the AOFAS score also showed an improvement, from 46.5 to 80.7 (p=0.01). The pain that remained after the operation, according to the VAS score, was severe in three patients (27.3%), tolerable in seven patients (63.6%), and free of pain in one patient (9.1%). CONCLUSION: In navicular stress fracture in adolescents, careful selection of patients who could benefit from surgical treatment is recommended.