Male elite soccer players have a higher incidence of accessory ossicles in the foot and ankle

Purpose: Accessory ossicles are caused by the failure of the fusion of secondary ossification centres and are more likely to occur due to heavy loading during the growth period or improper treatment after injury. This study aimed to investigate the incidence of foot and ankle accessory ossicles in male professional soccer players.

Methods: This study included male professional soccer players who underwent medical checkups at our hospital between 2017 and 2023 as the soccer group. Medical checkups included radiographs of bilateral anteroposterior and oblique foot, as well as bilateral anteroposterior and lateral ankle. Male patients age-matched with the soccer group who visited our hospital undergoing anteroposterior and oblique foot or anteroposterior and lateral ankle radiography were included in the control group. The incidence of accessory ossicles was investigated and compared between the soccer and control groups.

Results: In this study, 276 ankles and 276 feet, as well as 121 ankles and 79 feet, were included in the soccer and control groups, respectively. The incidence of accessory ossicles in the soccer and control groups was as follows: accessory navicular 35.9%, 24% (P = .049), os peroneum 8.0%, 2.5% (P = .09); os supranaviculare 7.6%, 1.3% (P = .039); os infranaviculare 1.4%, 1.3% (P = .090); os calcaneus secundarius 4.3%, 0% (P = .059); os vesalianum 0%, 0%; os subfiblare 12.7%, 2.5% (P < .001); os subtibiale 18.1%, 2.5% (P = .001); and os trigonum 89%, 24% (P < .001).

Conclusions: Male professional soccer players had a higher incidence of accessory navicular, os supranaviculare, os subfiblare, os subtibiale, and os trigonum.