Morphological measurements and classification of the navicular bone: a study based on computed tomography imaging

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic surgery
• Radiology
• Anatomy

Background:

• Navicular bone fractures require precise anatomical understanding for effective treatment.
• Existing classifications may not fully capture the morphological variations of the navicular bone.

Purpose of the Study:

• To classify navicular bone morphology using computed tomography (CT).
• To establish an anatomical basis for diagnosing and treating navicular bone fractures.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 351 computed tomographic (CT) images of the navicular bone.
• Classification of navicular bones into distinct types based on morphology.
• Measurement of anatomical features by three independent researchers.

Main Results:

• Navicular bones were classified into three types: Type I (37.04%), Type II (54.41%), and Type III (8.55%).
• Statistically significant differences in certain measurements were observed between sexes, except for ∠abc.
• Minimal significant differences were noted between left and right sides for specific measurements (ab, bc, ∠abc).

Conclusions:

• The proposed classification system provides valuable anatomical insights.
• This classification may assist orthopedic surgeons in making informed treatment decisions for navicular fractures.