Navicular stress fractures are a diagnostic challenge and the existence of the so called “N spot” over the navicular is an important diagnostic suspicion. X-rays are not always helpful with a significant number of false positives. There are no short cuts with a navicular stress fracture, the time non-weightbearing away from sport is a minimum of 5-6 weeks. There is no way around this. I have recently spoken to a couple of colleagues who had to deal with athlete with this and they were looking for ways to avoid that. There is no way. The outcomes and success rates and the return to sport for a navicular stress fracture, regardless if it is a surgical or conservative management plan seem to be about the same. The athlete has to be told: no weightbearing for 5-6 weeks. Find a non-weightbearing activity for them to keep going.
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