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...

Can an Ankle Sprain Simply Heal with Rest?

While popular opinion states that sprained ankles can only be left to heal on their own, that can actually lead to complications and prolonged healing. We review why you should seek medical treatment for your sprained ankle here.

Do I Need Surgery for My Hammertoe?

If you have a hammertoe, you might be wondering if surgery is your only option to treat it. We explore all your treatment options for hammertoe here and review when surgery becomes necessary.

How Are Custom Orthotics Made?

If you suffer from chronic foot and ankle pain, you might need custom-made orthotics. Find out more about the process of making custom orthotics here.

Can My Ingrown Toenail Heal on Its Own?

If you struggle with ingrown toenails — a common foot condition — you might be wondering if they’ll go away all on their own, or if you always need to seek treatment for them. We review that and more here.

I Have High Arches. Now What?

If you have high arches, you’re at risk for developing other foot health issues. Read on to learn how to treat any potential complications of high arches and more about this foot condition.

What’s Behind Your Popping Ankles?

Ankle popping is common. But how do you know what’s causing it, and if it’s something you should be worried about? We answer those questions and more here.