Anatomy of the os trigonum

Abstract

Three anatomic specimens of os trigonum from skeletally immature patients demonstrated anatomic continuity of the cartilage containing the ossicle with the body of the talus, with a synchondrosis being present between the two ossifying regions. The os trigonum may be considered a developmental analogue of a secondary ossification center similar to the posterior calcaneal apophysis (although there are obvious histologic differences). The chondro-osseous border of the synchondrosis may be injured either as a chronic stress fracture or, less frequently, as an acute fracture, comparable to the injury patterns involving the accessory navicular.