Description

Köhler disease is a rare, self-limiting, avascular necrosis (osteonecrosis) of the navicular bone in children.

Spontaneous adult onset osteonecrosis of the tarsal navicular is known as Mueller-Weiss syndrome (also Brailsford disease)

History

1908 – First described by German radiologist Alban Köhler

Clinical examples

Navicular avascular necrosis (Köhler disease) in a 5 year old male

Associated Persons

• Alban Köhler (1874 – 1947)
• Walther Müller (1888 – 1949)
• Konrad Weiss (1891 – 1976)
• James F Brailsford (1888 – 1961)

Alternative names

• Kohler disease, Koehler disease

References

• Köhler A. Uber eine häufige, bisher anscheinend unbekannte Erkrankung einzelner kindlicher Knochen. Munchener medizinische Wochenschrift, 1908; 55: 1923-5
• Williams GA, Cowell HR. Kohler’s disease of the tarsal navicular. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1981; 158: 53-8.
• Ippolito E, Ricciardi Pollini PT, Falez’ F. Köhler’s disease of the tarsal navicular: long-term follow-up of 12 cases. J Pediatr Orthop. 1984; 4(4): 416-7
• Shastri N, Olson L, Fowler M. Kohler’s Disease. West J Emerg Med. 2012; 13(1): 119–120.
• Cadogan M. Eponymythology of foot injuries. LITFL