Cuboid

Original Editor - Alex Benham Top Contributors - Mahbubur Rahman, Alex Benham, Rucha Gadgil and Kim Jackson

Description[edit | edit source]

The cuboid is one of the seven bones which make up the tarsus of the Ankle and Foot and it is one of the five bones of the mid-foot. It is located on the lateral aspect of the foot, anterior to the calcaneus, next to the navicular and lateral cuneiform bones, and posterior to the 4th and 5th metatarsal. [1]

Structure[edit | edit source]

It is a small, irregular-shaped bone, approximately cubical in shape where is derives its name. The small bone contains many smooth facets to allow articulation with the calcaneus posteriorly, the cuneiform and navicular medially and the 4th and 5th metatarsals anteriorly. On the inferior aspect of the bone, there is a small bony prominence named the cuboid tuberosity and a sulcus stretching obliquely in an anteromedial direction called the peroneal sulcus, holding in place the tendon of the peroneus longus. Its shape and location mean that it plays a strong role in maintaining the lateral longitudinal arch of the foot, in addition to some of the role of the transverse arch along with the cuneiform bones.

Function[edit | edit source]

The cuboid bone is the static and rigid lateral element of the foot, and that's why it provides inherent stability of the foot. It also consumes stress force during standing and ambulation, although it is not directly involved in weight-bearing, and its contribution is essential to the mobility of the lateral column of the foot. [2]

Cuboid bone - animation01.gif

Muscle and ligamentous attachments[edit | edit source]

The only muscular attachment to the cuboid bone is a plantar branch of the tibialis posterior [3]

For its size, there are numerous ligaments that attach to the cuboid due to its role in direct weight-bearing. These are...

  • Dorsal and Plantar Calcaneocuboid ligaments
  • Birfurcate ligament (calcaneocuboid portion)
  • Cuboideonavicular ligament
  • Dorsal, plantar interosseous cuneocuboid ligaments

Clinical relevance[edit | edit source]

Fractures of the bone on its own are rare and so if fractures do occur, these are often alongside more widespread trauma [4]. Damage to the area of the cuboid is noted to be involved with a Lisfranc injury where the metatarsal bones are displaced from the tarsus [5]. Among the athletes with lateral mid-foot pain, the Cuboid syndrome considered as common reason for it [6].

References[edit | edit source]

  1. W. Soames R, Palastanga N. Anatomy and Human Movement Structure and Function. 7th Edition. Elsevier; 2018.
  2. Gill M, Vilella RC. Anatomy, Bony Pelvis and Lower Limb, Foot Cuboid Bone [Internet]. PubMed. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022.
  3. Carmody D, Bubra P, Keighley G, Rateesh S. Posterior tibial tendon dysfunction: An overlooked cause of foot deformity. Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care [Internet]. 2015;4(1):26.
  4. Angoules AG, Angoules NA, Georgoudis M, Kapetanakis S. Update on diagnosis and management of cuboid fractures. World Journal of Orthopedics. 2019 Feb 18;10(2):71–80.
  5. Moracia-Ochagavía I, Rodríguez-Merchán EC. Lisfranc fracture-dislocations: current management. EFORT Open Reviews [Internet]. 2019 Jul 2;4(7):430–44.
  6. Durall CJ. Examination and Treatment of Cuboid Syndrome. Sports Health: A Multidisciplinary Approach. 2011 Apr 28;3(6):514–9.