Ankle and Foot Conditions

A. Douglas Spitalny, DPM

Bipartate Cuneiform

Bi-partate cuneiform is a rare anatomical variant. Currently, I have the largest series of these cases. Over my career, I have collected over 50. No published series has ever seen more then five.

Although uncommon, these are often misdiagnosed as a fracture. Patients with this anatomical variant are subject to midfoot DJD and injury. Like accessory bones, once injured they rarely will improve requiring surgical intervention.

biparcun13.JPG

Every case has had similar characteristics: two part medial cuneiform dividing the cuneiform into a dorsal and plantar piece. The navicular instead of being rounded at the naviculocuneiform joint comes to a point.

biparcun14.JPG

On the AP view, it is often difficult to see the two halves overlapping and this case is one of the easiest to see of the 50+ cases.

koppang2.JPG

Symptomatic cuneiform

koppang.JPG

CT-SCAN illutstrating the two-parts of the cuneiform

sanchez1.JPG

Cystic medial cuneiform

sanchez3.JPG

The intra-cuneiform space is arthritic and cystic which required fusion