Anatomy involved in navicular disease includes which structures?

• A. navicular bone and coffin joint only
• B. navicular bursa, DDFT, articular cartilage, impar ligament, collateral ligament, navicular bone, coffin joint
• C. DDFT and impar ligament only
• D. Navicular bone and navicular bursa only

Answer: (B)

Navicular disease involves several parts of the navicular apparatus, not just one structure. The problem can affect the navicular bone itself, the navicular bursa (the cushion between the bone and the deep digital flexor tendon), and the deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT) that runs over this area. It can also involve the impar ligament, which helps suspend the navicular complex, as well as the articular cartilage of the coffin joint and the ligaments that stabilize the coffin joint (the collateral ligaments). Because these structures are all closely related biomechanically and share spaces where pathology can develop, the most complete description of structures that can be involved includes the navicular bone, navicular bursa, DDFT, impar ligament, articular cartilage, collateral ligaments, and the coffin joint.