Cubonavicular Coalition: Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings and Associated Pathology of a Rarely Reported Condition in 27 Patients

Abstract

(1) Describe multimodality imaging of cubonavicular coalition (CNC) with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) focus, (2) evaluate CNC associated foot and ankle pathology, (3) examine clinical presentation/symptoms associated with CNC, (4) record CNC treatment. Retrospective Institutional Review Board (IRB) approved study. Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) databases searched for CNC. Final study population: 34 cases in 27 patients. Each CNC was reviewed for: coalition type (osseous versus non-osseous- cartilaginous versus fibrous), tendon and ligament pathology, bone marrow edema at CNC and adjacent joints, presence and severity of degenerative changes at CNC and adjacent joints, fractures, additional coalitions, laterality, and pes planus. MRI planes and radiographic views on which coalitions were best identified were recorded. Each CNC EMR was reviewed for: symptoms, trauma, management, patient demographics. Inter-reader reliability was performed for type of non-osseous coalition. Final cohort included 34 cases in 27 patients (average age: 34.7, range: 10-76; 71% female). No CNC was completely osseous. On MRI, 89.5% of coalitions were non-osseous and 5.3% were partially osseous. 76.5% of patients had referable symptoms including pain, limited motion, inability to bear weight. 23.5% of patients were surgically managed/pathologically proven. On MRI, 36.8% of patients had tendon pathology, 52.6% had ligamentous pathology, 100% had bone marrow edema-like signal abnormality about the CNC, and 88.2% had CNC degenerative changes. There was bone marrow edema-like signal abnormality at bones adjacent to the CNC in 52.6% and adjacent joint degenerative disease present in 50%. CNC was best identified on oblique radiographs and axial MRI. Inter-reader reliability for non-osseous coalition type was poor, Cronbach's alpha 0.554. CNC is subtle and findings of osteoarthritis or bone marrow edema-like about the cubonavicular articulation should raise suspicion for underlying coalition.