Osteonecrosis of the Tarsal Navicular: Not Always Spontaneous!

Mueller-Weiss disease, a rare and complex foot condition, is defined as spontaneous and progressive navicular fragmentation leading to midfoot pain and deformity. However, its exact etiopathogenesis remains unclear. We report a case series of tarsal navicular osteonecrosis to describe the clinical and imaging characteristics and etiologic profile of the disease.

This retrospective study included five women diagnosed as having tarsal navicular osteonecrosis. The following data were extracted from medical records: age, comorbidities, alcohol and tobacco consumption, history of trauma, clinical presentation, imaging modalities performed, treatment protocol, and outcomes.

Five women with a mean age of 51.4 years (range, 39-68 years) were enrolled in the study. Mechanical pain and deformity over the dorsum of the midfoot was the main clinical presentation. Rheumatoid arthritis, granulomatosis with polyangiitis, and spondyloarthritis were reported by three patients. Radiographs revealed bilateral distribution in one patient. Three patients underwent computed tomography. It showed a fragmentation of the navicular bone in two cases.Magnetic resonance imaging was performed in one patient showing flattening of the lateral aspect of the navicular bone with signal abnormalities. Talonaviculocuneiform arthrodesis was performed in all of the patients.

Mueller-Weiss disease-like changes may occur in patients with an underlying inflammatory disease such as rheumatoid arthritis and spondyloarthritis.