Fractures of the body of the tarsal navicular bone: case reports and literature review.

Four patients sustaining tarsal navicular body fractures are presented. Analysis based on these cases and on 36 patients suffering from identical fractures reported in the literature led to a new mechanical assumption: the axial compression on the foot, as a result of falling from height, causes impaction of the talus into the body of the navicular bone. The clinical followup results reported are usually disappointing. Favorable results are obtained in a vertical two-part fracture, by an open reduction and internal fixation of the tarsal navicular body fracture. In highly comminuted fractures, talo-navicular-cuneiform arthrodesis can be carried out.