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Köhler disease

Köhler disease
Classification & external resources
Skeleton of foot. Medial aspect.
ICD-10 M92.6
ICD-9 732.5
DiseasesDB 7204
eMedicine orthoped/410 

Köhler disease (also spelled "Kohler") is a rare bone disorder of the foot found in children between six and nine years of age. It was first described in 1908 by Alban Köhler (1874-1947), a German radiologist. [1][2]

It is caused when the navicular bone temporarily loses its blood supply. As a result, tissue in the bone dies and the bone collapses. When treated, it causes no long term problems. As the navicular bone gets back to normal, symptoms typically abate.

Additional recommended knowledge



Sufferers experience pain and swelling in the middle part of the foot and usually limp as a result. The disease typically affects boys, but it can also affect girls. Five is the age of boys most often affected and patients often complain of pain over the apex. X-ray of both feet is used to diagnose disease. The affected foot has dense flattened navicular bone.


Although no definitive cause has been found yet, the disease may be due to strain on a weak navicular bone.


The patient is often fit with a cast that stops below the knee. Moderate exercise is often beneficial.


  1. ^ A. Köhler. Über eine häufige, bisher anscheinend unbekannte Erkrankung einzelner kindlicher Knochen. Münchener medizinische Wochenschrift. 1908, 55: 1923-1925.
  2. ^ synd/2676 at Who Named It


patella (Luxating patella, Chondromalacia patellae)

Protrusio acetabuli - Hemarthrosis - Arthralgia - Osteophyte
Systemic connective


bursitis (Olecranon, Prepatellar, Trochanteric)



  This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Köhler_disease". A list of authors is available in Wikipedia.