Percutaneous Drilling of Symptomatic Accessory Navicular in Young Athletes

Abstract

Background Results of percutaneous drilling for symptomatic type II accessory tarsal navicular bone are not determined. Hypothesis Percutaneous drilling of accessory navicular synchondrosis will induce or accelerate bone union between the accessory and primary navicular bones. Bone union of the synchondrosis leads to symptomatic relief. Study Design Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods Thirty-one feet of 29 patients with type II accessory tarsal navicular treated by percutaneous drilling were reviewed. Results Twenty-four feet (77.4%) were assessed as excellent, 6 (19.4%) as good, and 1 (3.2%) as fair. No feet were assessed as poor. Bone union was obtained in 16 (80%) of the 20 feet when the proximal phalanx of the great toe was immature and in 2 of the 11 feet when it was mature. Conclusion Percutaneous drilling of the synchondrosis was effective for a symptomatic type II accessory navicular, especially in patients with immature proximal phalanx of the great toe.