Complications of Having Too Many Bones in Your Foot

Complications of Having Too Many Bones in Your Foot

If you’re experiencing foot pain, a possible explanation is that you have an extra bone in that particular area of your foot. The most common place this extra bone can form is on the inside of your foot around the navicular bone. When an extra bone is located there, it’s called accessory navicular syndrome.  

 

Our team of podiatrists at Foot & Ankle Institute of Colorado offers insight into what exactly accessory navicular syndrome is and how to treat any complications that may come from having it.

What is accessory navicular syndrome?

Accessory navicular syndrome is a condition where an extra piece of cartilage or bone fragment forms in the inner part of your foot that’s right above your arch. The accessory navicular bone is typically settled between your navicular bone and posterior tibial tendon.

This condition is congenital (present at birth) and appears in about 2.5% of the population. In 50% of those cases, an accessory navicular bone was found in both feet.

Typically, this accessory navicular bone goes unnoticed until it starts to harden, or calcify, in adolescence, and a hard bump starts to form.

Complications of accessory navicular syndrome

In many cases, symptoms of accessory navicular syndrome don’t appear until well into adulthood, after the bone has had time to form and harden.

Some common symptoms of this condition include:

Because of the accessory navicular bone’s position, having this syndrome can lead to complications like changes in your gait, damage to your posterior tibial tendon, and deformities such as flat feet.  

How accessory navicular syndrome is treated

At the Foot & Ankle Institute of Colorado, our team generally recommends conservative methods to treat your accessory navicular syndrome before resorting to any surgical options. Of course, the exact treatment depends on how severe your condition is.

Some of our nonsurgical options include:

Using over-the-counter pain medications can also help to give you some much-needed pain relief.

However, if these treatment methods don’t seem to be helping any, surgery will most likely be the next step. An approach that our practice typically uses is called the Kidner procedure, where we remove the accessory navicular bone and repair any damage done to the posterior tibial tendon before anchoring the tendon back to your navicular bone.

The bottom line

If you have any unexplained foot or ankle pain, having an extra bone could be the culprit, and that should be treated as quickly as possible to avoid complications.

To get treatment for your foot or ankle pain, call our office located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, or book an appointment online with us today.

You Might Also Enjoy...

Say Goodbye to Bunions with Lapiplasty® Surgery

Say Goodbye to Bunions with Lapiplasty® Surgery

If you’re worried about getting bunion surgery, you may want to consider Lapiplasty®, which offers more stability and quicker recovery than traditional bunion surgery. Discover what you need to know about this cutting-edge surgery here.
Should I Have Morton’s Neuroma Surgery?

Should I Have Morton’s Neuroma Surgery?

Morton’s neuroma is a nerve-related foot condition that requires professional treatment. However, the type of treatment you need depends on the severity of nerve damage. Discover if your Morton’s neuroma needs surgery or something more simple here.
When Does an Ankle Fracture Require Surgery?

When Does an Ankle Fracture Require Surgery?

Ankle fractures can range from mild to severe, and the treatment of them depends on the kind of break you have. While some fractures need surgery, not all do. Discover the types of ankle fractures and how they’re treated here.