Transient osteoporosis of the navicular bone in a runner.
BACKGROUND
Transient osteoporosis or the bone marrow oedema syndrome is described as a self-limiting disorder. Transient osteoporosis usually affects only one bone, predominantly the proximal femur. Involvement of the foot is rare and often overlooked. A disorder of the navicular bone of the foot can be found twice in the literature.


METHODS
We report a case of transient osteoporosis of the navicular bone of the foot in a 20-year-old, female, top-level track athlete (400 m sprinter) treated with alendronate, and a review of the literature.


RESULTS
The therapeutic options are limited, frequently consisting of non-specific, symptomatic therapy. Some authors report favourable results with core decompression, while others have reported good results with a conservative regime of symptomatic treatment and avoidance of weight-bearing until the clinical and radiological changes have resolved. In the described case, the patient had a favourable result after a short course of treatment with alendronate. She experienced almost immediate pain reduction and presented a complete resolution of the abnormal signal intensity on MRI.


CONCLUSIONS
This rapid result makes the use of alendronate seem promising in athletes with transient osteoporosis, permitting an early return to high-level activities.
Miltner
O
O
Orthopaedic Department of the UK Aachen, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany. Miltner.Heuter@t-online.de
Niedhart
C
C
Piroth
W
W
Weber
M
M
Siebert
C H
CH
D000328:Adult; D019386:Alendronate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011859:Radiography; D012420:Running; D013639:Tarsal Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013997:Time Factors
D019386:Alendronate