3. Köhler's Bone Disease

Köhler's Bone Disease

This PatientPlus article is written for healthcare professionals so the language may be more technical than the condition leaflets. You may find the abbreviations list helpful.

This is defined as osteochondrosis of the tarsal navicular bone.

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Osteochondroses are noninflammatory, noninfectious derangements of bony growth at various ossification centres occurring during times of great developmental activity. They affect the epiphyses.

Other osteochondroses include:

The aetiology of Köhler's disease is unknown. Theories have included vascular trauma and retarded bone age, but none has been proven.[2]

Köhler's bone disease is rare.

  • It commonly affects children aged 3 to 5 years old, but is seen any time between age 2 and 10 years.[3]
  • It is more common in boys; however, girls with this condition are often younger than boys with the disease. This is probably due to the onset of ossification in girls, which occurs at age 18-24 months. In boys ossification occurs at age 24-30 months.

Children present with:

  • A unilateral antalgic gait (a limp, avoiding putting weight on painful structures)
  • Local tenderness of the medial aspect of the foot, over the navicular bone

The child is able to walk by taking the majority of their weight on the lateral aspect of the foot. Frequently, there is swelling and redness of the soft tissues.

Plain X-ray

X-rays comparing the affected with the unaffected side help assess progression.

  • The navicular bone is initially flattened and sclerotic. Later it becomes fragmented and then re-ossifies.[4]
  • The lateral view shows a flat tarsal scaphoid.
  • The space between the talus and the cuneiforms is preserved.

MRI/CT scanning

This is used if pain persists 6 months after casting. This is necessary to exclude a tarsal coalition. This is when the bones fuse and is a frequent cause of painful flatfoot in the older child or adolescent.

The mainstays of treatment are:

  • Rest
  • Avoiding excessive weight bearing
  • Analgesia

Immobilisation in a short leg cast moulded under the longitudinal arch, speeds up recovery.[5][6] Treating all patients for at least 6 weeks is recommended.

  • If pain persists after a 6-week period of casting, a new cast must be applied for 6 supplementary weeks.
  • Other causes of foot pain (including talar coalition or an accessory navicular) should be excluded if the pain does not disappear after the cast has been in place.

The course is chronic, but rarely lasts longer than 2 years.[4] Symptoms in treated patients can last for less than 3 months.

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Further reading & references

  1. Panner's Disease, Wheeless' Textbook of Orthopaedics
  2. WAUGH W; The ossification and vascularisation of the tarsal navicular and their relation to Kohler's disease. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1958 Nov;40-B(4):765-77.
  3. Vargas-Barreto B, Clayer M. Köhler Disease. eMedicine, February 2009; Good clinical images
  4. Kohler's disease, Wheeless' Textbook of Orthopaedics
  5. Ippolito E, Ricciardi Pollini PT, Falez' F; Ippolito E, Ricciardi Pollini PT, Falez' F; Kohler's disease of the tarsal navicular: long-term follow-up of 12 cases. J Pediatr Orthop. 1984 Aug;4(4):416-7.
  6. Borges JL, Guille JT, Bowen JR; Kohler's bone disease of the tarsal navicular. J Pediatr Orthop. 1995 Sep-Oct;15(5):596-8.
Original Author: Dr Hayley Willacy Current Version:
Last Checked: 19/02/2010 Document ID: 8596  Version: 2 © EMIS

Disclaimer: This article is for information only and should not be used for the diagnosis or treatment of medical conditions. EMIS has used all reasonable care in compiling the information but make no warranty as to its accuracy. Consult a doctor or other health care professional for diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions. For details see our conditions.

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