Comparison of outcomes of osteosynthesis in type II accessory navicular by variable fixation methods.

BACKGROUND

To compare the outcomes of fixation methods for osteosynthesis of a type II symptomatic accessory navicular between screw and tension band wiring.

METHODS

Forty-four patients (mean age, 29.2 years; range, 13-54 years; 21 males and 23 females) who had undergone operative treatment after failed conservative treatment were chosen for the study between 2007 and 2014. The patients were divided into two groups by the method of osteosynthesis: group 1 (screw) and group 2 (tension band wiring). Pre and postoperative evaluations were performed, using the midfoot scale from the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS), a visual analog scale, time to return to social activities, and plain radiography.

RESULTS

The AOFAS midfoot and visual analog scale scores of both groups were improved at the last postoperative follow-up. The time to return to social activities was 12.3 weeks in the screw group and 11.9 weeks in the tension band wiring group (p=0.394). A broken screw was observed in one case in the screw group and a broken k-wire was detected in two cases in the tension band wiring group. Nonunion was observed in two cases in each group.

CONCLUSION

The tension band wiring technique could be another treatment choice of osteosynthesis for fixation of the accessory navicular bone.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, Retrospective Case Control Study.