LISFRANC INJURY

Summary

• Lisfranc injuries occur at the midfoot where a cluster of small bones forms an arch on top of the foot between the ankle and the toes.Lisfranc fracture-dislocations are swollen and painful with some bruising and inability to put any weight on the foot.

How did I get this?

• Lisfranc injuries occur as a result of direct or indirect forces to the foot. A direct force often involves something heavy falling on the foot. Indirect force commonly involves twisting the foot.Commonly occur in automobile accident victims, military personnel, runners, horseback riders, football players and participants of other contact sports, or something as simple as missing a step on a staircase.

What can I do about it?

• Refrain from putting weight on the foot.
• Oral anti-inflammatory medications (ibuprofen) help reduce pain and inflammation.
• Swelling is reduced by icing the affected area and keeping the foot elevated.

What help can I get for this?

• Podiatrist will place the affected foot in a cam walker to keep it immobile, and crutches are used to avoid putting weight on the injured foot.
• Orthopaedic foot surgeon for possible surgical treatment to realign the joints and return the broken (fractured) bone fragments to a normal position.
• A surgeon to correct the associated deformity which is causing the synovitis.

When will it get better?

• The majority of the recovery occurs in the first 6 months, but it is often a year or more before patients reach their point of maximal improvement. If the surgical treatment fails or the joint damage from the injury leads to severe arthritis, then a fusion (arthrodesis) of the Lisfranc joints may be necessary. Despite the stiffness of a fused joint most patients with successful fusion of the midfoot joints have good function of the foot.