Prevalence of the Os Supranaviculare: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis.

Background/

Objectives

The os supranaviculare (OSSN), also known as os talonaviculare dorsale, astragalo-scaphoid ossicle, or Pirie's bone, is a small extra bone that was first described in 1921 by A.H. Pirie and is located at the top front part of the navicular bone or talonavicular joint. The knowledge regarding the epidemiology of the OSSN is scarcely established, as its prevalence remains unknown and varies significantly among multiple studies. This meta-analysis aims to clarify and systematically summarize all available data on the characteristics and prevalence of the OSSN.

Methods

Four major databases (PubMed/Medline, Embase, ScienceDirect, Scopus) were thoroughly searched for studies reporting original data regarding the OSSN up until May 2025. The protocol of this study was pre-registered on PROSPERO (ID: CRD42025638111) and adhered to PRISMA guidelines. To evaluate the between-study heterogeneity, the 95% prediction intervals (95%PI) were calculated; I2 statistic and Chi2 test were also used. The AQUA-tool was used to assess the quality of included studies.

Results

In total, 13 studies (18,745 feet) qualified for inclusion in the quantitative analysis. The pooled prevalence estimate (PPE) of the OSSN in the general population was found to be 0.88% (95%CI: 0.62-1.24%). The PPE of the OSSN was higher in males (0.87%, 95%CI: 0.58-1.32%) than in females (0.48%, 95%CI: 0.14-1.64%). The os supranaviculare was similarly prevalent in both European (1.04%, 95%CI: 0.55-1.96%) and Asian (0.87%, 95%CI: 0.66-1.13%) populations.

Conclusions

the os supranaviculare is a very rare anatomical variation that is present in less than one in a hundred feet. Moreover, although usually asymptomatic, it can occasionally be associated with dorsal foot pain or navicular stress fractures. Accurate differentiation from avulsion fractures is essential to avoid unnecessary invasive treatment.