Navicular Stress Fractures - the Donald Trump of Foot Bones #109

Sports Medicine Project

In this episode of The Sports Medicine Project, we explore navicular stress fractures—a high-risk injury requiring a unique approach due to the bone’s anatomy, biomechanics, and healing challenges.

Pro version Heidi AI Scribe (time saver) Link: https://scribe.heidihealth.com/?via=SMP

Support the show: https://patreon.com/SportsMedicineProject?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

We cover:

• ​Anatomy and biomechanics of the navicular.
• ​Risk factors: young athletes, biomechanics, and bone health.
• ​Delayed diagnosis and the role of imaging (CT vs. MRI).
• ​The debate over blood supply and its impact on healing.
• ​Management strategies: non-weight-bearing protocols, surgery vs. conservative care.
• ​Rehabilitation and return-to-sport considerations.

• ​PMID: 8775123
• ​PMID: 28110392
• ​PMID: 39348218
• ​PMID: 37489055
• ​PMID: 33512847

This episode is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice.

Support the show if it brought you value. The only thing we want to do the money is crate a better show and better resources

https://www.patreon.com/SportsMedicineProject?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator

00:00 Welcome to Season Two

04:31 Bilateral Insertional Achilles Tendinopathy

22:05 Better Subjective Questioning

28:27 Neck of Femur Stress Fracture

31:39 Understanding Navicular Stress Fractures

32:35 Introduction to Navicular Stress Fractures

35:06 Incidence of Navicular Stress Fractures

35:15 Who Gets Navicular Stress Fractures?

36:57 Time to Diagnosis of Navicular Stress Fractures

38:20 Anatomy of the Navicular

41:46 Biomechanics of the Navicular

45:18 Risk Factors for Navicular Stress Fractures

50:27 Foot Stiffness and Navicular Stress Fractures

55:28 Diagnostic Tests for Navicular Stress Fractures

01:00:11 Differential Diagnosis for Navicular Stress Fractures

01:01:24 Understanding Mid-Foot Pain and Injuries

01:02:57 Blood Supply to the Navicular

01:03:32 Do Naviculars Have Blood Flow?

01:06:25 Healing Variability and Factors Affecting Recovery

01:09:49 Imaging of Navicular Stress Fractures

01:14:00 Differential Diagnoses Not to Miss

01:14:55 Management Strategies for Navicular Stress Fractures

01:14:58 Müller-Weiss Syndrome

01:15:14 Management of Navicular Stress Fracture