[Stress fractures of the navicular bone--biomechanical and densitometry studies]

One of the most important pathogenetic mechanisms regarding stress fractures of the navicular bone lies in the hyperpronation movement of the foot. For recording the impacts of the pronation movement on the talonavicular joint, stress and pressure experiments are carried out and the radii of curvature as well as the bone density are measured. The stress experiments show a rotation movement of the talar head in a medioplantar direction of about 20 degrees. The radii of curvature of the articulating joint surfaces do not differ to a great extent. A possible incongruency in the joint therefore has to be attributed to the rotation movement of the talus during pronation of the foot. The pressure experiments show a very irregular distribution of pressure in the joint presenting a lateral and medial pressure maximum. Fractures preferably occur in the area in between these maxima. Areas of high subchondral bone density in the densitometric results are found in the central part of the talar head as well as in the medial part of the navicular bone. Within the functional adaptation the distribution of bone density expresses the rotation movement of the talus during pronation of the foot.