Difficulty in Diagnosis and Treatment of a Navicular Fracture and Talar Osteochondral Fracture in an Adolescent Dancer: A Case Study

Faculty Mentor

John Gerber

Document Type

Oral Presentation

Start Date

10-5-2023 1:15 PM

End Date

10-5-2023 1:35 PM

Location

PUB 321

Department

Wellness & Movement Sciences

Abstract

The foot and ankle region is the most common area of injury in competitive dancers. In adolescent competitive dancers, 53.4% of the injuries occur at the foot and ankle (Gamboa, et al., 2008). Tarsal navicular stress fractures are often difficult to diagnose and may cause significant disability particularly in athletic individuals (Saxena, et al., 2006). Left untreated, it can result in a complete fracture, arthrosis, and possibly avascular necrosis due to low blood supply. Osteochondral lesions of the talus are frequently described as an uncommon diagnosis that is a difficult pathologic entity to treat (Steele, et al., 2018). Like navicular fractures, these are also difficult to diagnose and treat. This case report describes challenges in the diagnosis and treatment of a 17-year-old female high school competitive dancer who sustained a combination injury of both a navicular fracture and osteochondral fracture of the talus. In her case, she returned to full activity without symptoms following surgical treatment of the navicular fracture, conservative management of the osteochondral lesion, and several months of post-operative rehabilitation.

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May 10th, 1:15 PM May 10th, 1:35 PM

Difficulty in Diagnosis and Treatment of a Navicular Fracture and Talar Osteochondral Fracture in an Adolescent Dancer: A Case Study

PUB 321

The foot and ankle region is the most common area of injury in competitive dancers. In adolescent competitive dancers, 53.4% of the injuries occur at the foot and ankle (Gamboa, et al., 2008). Tarsal navicular stress fractures are often difficult to diagnose and may cause significant disability particularly in athletic individuals (Saxena, et al., 2006). Left untreated, it can result in a complete fracture, arthrosis, and possibly avascular necrosis due to low blood supply. Osteochondral lesions of the talus are frequently described as an uncommon diagnosis that is a difficult pathologic entity to treat (Steele, et al., 2018). Like navicular fractures, these are also difficult to diagnose and treat. This case report describes challenges in the diagnosis and treatment of a 17-year-old female high school competitive dancer who sustained a combination injury of both a navicular fracture and osteochondral fracture of the talus. In her case, she returned to full activity without symptoms following surgical treatment of the navicular fracture, conservative management of the osteochondral lesion, and several months of post-operative rehabilitation.