An Isolated Plantar Medial Navicular Dislocation Without Associated Body Fracture Following Low Energy Trauma

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Podiatric Medicine
• Traumatology

Background:

• Isolated tarsal navicular dislocation without fracture is a rare orthopedic injury.
• Historically, these injuries are associated with high-energy mechanisms and have limited documented follow-up.
• The typical mechanism involves a pronation-abduction force to the midfoot.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a unique case of isolated tarsal navicular dislocation without fracture.
• To describe the successful management of a low-energy mechanism-induced dislocation.
• To provide detailed follow-up on patient outcomes and sequelae.

Main Methods:

• Case report of a 57-year-old female with isolated tarsal navicular dislocation.
• Successful closed reduction and Kirschner wire fixation under operating room conditions.
• Regular follow-up appointments and patient compliance with postoperative care.

Main Results:

• The patient achieved significant pain relief and functional improvement by 8 months post-operation.
• Mild chronic midfoot pain persisted at the 15-month follow-up.
• The low-energy mechanism and thorough follow-up offer a unique perspective compared to literature.

Conclusions:

• Isolated tarsal navicular dislocation can occur from low-energy mechanisms, challenging previous assumptions.
• Closed reduction and Kirschner wire fixation can lead to successful short-term outcomes.
• Long-term sequelae, such as mild chronic pain, may persist despite successful initial management.