Traumatic Case of Comminuted, Shattered Navicular Bone Fracture: A Rare Case of Midfoot Catastrophe

The navicular bone is a tarsal bone of the foot. It is an important bone that supports the medial arch of the foot. Navicular bone fractures are a rare injury. Fractures may occur as a result of stress or trauma. In both scenarios, it may be considered high risk due to poor blood supply to the bone. It is more common in athletes while kicking, sprinting, twisting, or falling. We report a case of a comminuted navicular fracture in an individual fixed with the Joshi external stabilization system (JESS).

A 40-year-old male presented with injury to the right foot. The patient met with an accident; he was brought to the casualty department. He was conscious, cooperative, and alert. No other bony injury was noted. There was no history of blunt abdominal trauma; however, blunt chest trauma was noted. No history of diabetes mellitus. The patient was newly detected hypertensive and was treated with tablet amlodipine 5 mg bd and tablet telmisartan 40 mg at night.

Navicular bone fracture is a rare injury. It results from either stress fractures or trauma. Early diagnosis of suspicion and prompt treatment are key to success. JESS was the choice of treatment in this case. Other cases may need open reduction and internal fixation.