Human navicular bone: a morphometric and morphological evaluation

The composition of navicular joint complex is crucial to perform surgical interventions for multiple pathological foot aetiologies. The data on human navicular bone and its facets from Indian population remain scarce in literature.

To evaluate the morphometry and morphology of navicular bone.

A total of 77 (right: 40; left: 37) dried human navicular bones were used. The collected data were entered and analysed in SPSS software.

The anteroposterior diameter of navicular bone on right side was 15.19 mm (13.92, 16.77) and on left side was 15.87 mm (13.83, 17.27). The transverse diameter on right and left sides were 34.21 mm (31.74, 36.6) and 33.59 mm (30.23, 35.43), respectively. The vertical diameter measured on the right was 22.31 mm (21.19, 23.94) and on left 22.53 mm (20.8, 24.24). Morphometric evaluation showed no significant difference between right and left navicular bones. The commonest shape for posterior facet was quadrilateral, on the right (62.5%) and left (40.5%). The most common shape of anterior facet for medial cuneiform is quadrilateral, on the right (85%) and left (89.1%). For intermediate cuneiform, triangular facet was common on the right side (72.5%) and on the left (59.5%). The lateral cuneiform facet was bean shaped on right side (72.5%) and quadrilateral on the left side (32.5%). There was a significant difference in shape distribution between right and left (P < 0.05). The median length of the groove for tibialis posterior tendon was 18.01 mm and 16.19 mm on right and left side, respectively. Cuboid facet was observed in 28 (70%) and 26 (65.9%) navicular bones on right and left sides, respectively.

There is no significant difference between right and left bones with regards to morphometric parameters. Morphological evaluation revealed significant difference in the distribution of shape between right and left bones.