A young man presented in the casualty department following a road traffic accident with difficulty in walking and pain at the dorsum of the right foot.
AP & lateral radiographs of the right foot showed no obvious fracture. CT of the axial, coronal & sagittal sections of the right foot showed an undisplaced fracture of the medial cuneiform bone.
Traumatic as well as stress-induced isolated medial cuneiform fractures are rare [1, 2]. Only few cases have been reported in the literature [3]. They are commonly associated with metatarsal injuries, such as Lisfranc dislocation fractures and other tarsal bone fractures. The mechanism of injury is usually direct blow or axial load through the foot.
The patient usually presents with pain, swelling, restricted movements and difficulty in walking. Isolated medial cuneiform fractures may be easily overlooked on plain radiographs especially in emergency services. Non-displaced, nondislocated fractures are even more difficult to diagnose on radiographs [4]. In our case, the patient presented with right foot pain and swelling following a road traffic accident. Initial radiographs showed soft tissue injury with no obvious fracture. The patient visited the orthopaedic OPD after 5 days with no relief in symptoms. Local examination reveals tender medial aspect of the right mid-foot. CT was advised to rule out any underlying fracture. CT shows an isolated medial cuneiform fracture. Cross-sectional imaging like CT or MRI should be considered in cases of persistent symptoms and high clinical suspicion of fracture.
Computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging is helpful in diagnosing the isolated medial cuneiform fracture and guiding further management.
Patients can be treated conservatively with no weight bearing activity for two to four weeks without immobilisation. As mid-tarsal joint has limited movements; complications are infrequent and include non-union. In differential diagnosis bipartite medial cuneiform can be considered [5].
Take home message:
CT or MRI should be done in trauma cases with high clinical suspicion of fracture but normal radiographs to rule out underlying injury.
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Isolated medial cuneiform fracture
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Based on the provided right foot X-ray and CT images, soft tissue swelling is observed in the tarsal region of the right foot. On the initial X-ray, no significant fracture line is seen. However, the CT clearly demonstrates a fracture line at the medial cuneiform of the right foot. This fracture shows minimal displacement, primarily indicated by an interruption of the local cortical continuity and altered trabecular structure. No obvious avulsion signs are found in the surrounding soft tissue, suggesting an isolated (not involving other tarsometatarsal or cuneiform groups) fracture of the medial cuneiform.
Considering the patient's history of injury from a motor vehicle accident, persistent dorsal foot pain, and the CT findings, the most likely diagnosis is “Isolated Medial Cuneiform Fracture” (without significant displacement). This conclusion aligns with the clinical symptoms and is consistent with common misdiagnosis features.
For an isolated medial cuneiform fracture (with no significant displacement), conservative treatment is typically employed, combined with gradual rehabilitation:
Disclaimer: This report is for reference and analysis purposes only, and cannot replace an in-person consultation or professional medical advice. For a specific diagnosis and treatment plan, please integrate the patient’s actual condition and consult a specialist.
Isolated medial cuneiform fracture