Lisfranc Injuries – Symptoms, Causes & Treatment
The midfoot joint complex is located at the point in which your metatarsal bones intersect with your tarsal bones. The metatarsals then proceed to the point where your toes are located, while the tarsals reside at the arch that is atop your foot.
This midfoot joint complex is also referred to as the Lisfranc joint. It received that name due to the accomplishments of French surgeon Jacques Lisfranc de St. Martin, who became the first physician to describe injuries in this area during the 1800s.
The bones of this joint are joined by the Lisfranc ligament, which supplies the sturdy connective tissue that supports the connection of the metatarsal and tarsal bones. This gives the Lisfranc joint complex the critical responsibility of preserving the balance of your midfoot, in order to sustain its necessary alignment.
Lisfranc Injury Causes
A Lisfranc injury will occur if the bones in this area are broken. It will also emerge if the ligaments that provide support become torn. In some cases, these issues are not severe. But for other patients, the situation is more complex.
Lisfranc issues can develop as a result of twisting or falling. This is a common occurrence during a large number of competitive sports. But some
Lisfranc issues reach the more serious end of the spectrum. These can occur due to severe trauma, such as falling from a long distance.
Lisfranc Injury Symptoms
The indications that a Lisfranc injury has occurred include pain and swelling at the top of your foot.
Bruising at the top or bottom of your foot can also develop. Any form of bruising that emerges at the bottom of your foot is often a sign that a Lisfranc fracture has occurred.
If you encounter an increase in pain when you attempt to stand walk or place any pressure on your foot this can also be a sign that a Lisfranc problem has emerged.
Types of Lisfranc Injuries
Sprains are one of the most common types of Lisfranc injuries. This results from a stretching of the Lisfranc ligament, which weakens the middle of your foot if it occurs.
Fractures present a more serious issue since they involve an actual break in the Lisfranc joint. This can develop with a small portion of the bone or a complete break of the bone.
Dislocations are also a more complicated form of Lisfranc injury, which entails the bones being shifted from the usual positions.
What A Doctor Will Do
It is essential that you or your family member visit an orthopedic surgeon if you are experiencing any of the symptoms that were mentioned. This is also the case if you believe that you are dealing with a Lisfranc issue for any other reason.
Your doctor will ask a series of questions concerning your symptoms and the circumstances that caused the issue that you are experiencing. He or she will also examine your foot, which could compel your physician to order imaging tests. These might include x-rays, MRIs, or CT scans.
Non-Surgical Treatments
Once your doctor has completed a diagnosis, there are a number of potential treatment plans that could be constructed.
Ice is one of the potential non-surgical treatments, and your doctor might also advise you to elevate your foot. This will be designed to prohibit you from placing any weight on your foot.
Anti-inflammatory medications might be prescribed, and physical therapy could also be recommended. Your exact form of treatment will be determined by the specifics of your situation.
Surgical Treatments
Surgery will likely be recommended for any Lisfranc injury that involves a fracture in either the joints of the midfoot. It will also be advised if the normal positioning of the joints has been altered. There are several types of surgery that might ensue although that is dependent upon the specific injury and other factors surrounding the treatment plan.
One form of surgery for a Lisfranc injury is referred to as internal fixation. This procedure involves positioning the bones correctly through the use of screws or plates. Another form of surgical treatment is referred to as fusion. This entails connecting the bones in a manner that causes them to fuse into one piece.
If either of these types of surgery transpires, a rehabilitation period of six to eight weeks is likely.
At Orthopedic Associates We Can Help
If you have any questions or concerns about Lisfranc injuries or any other issues with your feet, the professionals at Orthopedic Associates are ready to assist you.
Orthopedic Associates offers a full spectrum of musculoskeletal care, along with in-house physical sports therapy, and state-of-the-art-technology including our digital imaging and open MRI, and an on-site surgical center for more patient convenience.
Our board-certified doctors – including foot specialist Michael J. Willenborg – have been practicing medicine for a combined total of 183 years. This helps
Conditions of the feet that are treated at Orthopedic Associates include:
- Accessory Navicular
- Adult Acquired Flatfoot
- Bunion
- Bunionette Deformity (Tailor’s Bunion)
- Cavus Foot (High-Arched Foot)
- Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease (CMT)
- Charcot’s Neuroarthropathy (CN)
- Claw Toe
- Clubfoot (Talipes Equinovarus)
- Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
- Corns
- Diabetic Foot
- Fracture of the Heel Bone (Calcaneus)
- Gout
- Hallux Rigidus (Stiff Big Toe)
- Hammer Toe
- Ingrown Toenails
- Jones Fractures
- Lisfranc (Midfoot) Fracture-Dislocation
- Metatarsalgia
- Morton’s Neuroma
- MTP Synovitis (Capsulitis)
- Peroneal Tendon Tears
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Plantar Warts
- Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction (PTTD)
- Rheumatoid Arthritis of the Foot
- Sesamoiditis
- Stress Fractures of the Footarsal Tunnel Syndrome (Posterior Tibial Neuralgia)
Our orthopedic experts are highly experienced in performing numerous types of treatments for your feet. These treatments include:
- Amniotic and Placental Graft
- Tissue for Surgery and Wound Care
- Anesthesia
- Bunion Correction with Scarf and Akin Osteotomy
- Bunionectomy
- Bunionette Deformity Correctionalcaneal Fracture Fixation (Open Reduction and Internal Fixation)
- Calcaneal Sliding Osteotomy (with Lateral Plate Fixation)
- Calcaneal Tongue-Type Fracture Fixation (Open Reduction and Internal Fixation)
- Cartilage Repair
- Charcot Foot Treatment Options
- Cheilectomy
- Cold Laser Therapy
- Computed Tomography (CT) Scan
- Cotton Osteotomy (Medial Cuneiform Opening Wedge Osteotomy)
- DuVries Arthroplasty
- Electromyography (EMG)
- Endoscopic Plantar Fasciotomy (EPF)
- Excision of Mortons Neuromas
- First MTP Joint Fusion/Replacement
- Fixation for LisFranc Injury
- Hammertoe Correction (PIP Joint Arthroplasty)
- Jones Fracture Fixation
- Kidner Procedure
- Lapidus Arthrodesis (with Medial Plate Fixation)
- Lapidus Procedure for Bunion Correction
- Lateral Column Lengthening (Evans Osteotomy) for Adult Acquired Flatfoot
- Lisfranc Ligament Repair (Suture Button Technique)
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
- Mallet Toe Correction (DIP Joint Arthroplasty)
- Medial Calcaneal Sliding Osteotomy
- Metatarsal Fracture Fixation (Open Reduction and Internal Fixation)
- Metatarsal Head Resurfacing with Collagen Interpositional Grafting
- Midfoot Fusion
- Minimal Incision Toe Bone Spur Removal
- Multimodal Anesthesia and Pain Control
- Nerve Conduction Study (NCS)
- Partial Nail Removal (Matrixectomy)
- Plantar Fascia Release (Open Technique)
- Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scan
- Pulse Dye Laser Wart Removal
- Radiofrequency Treatment for Plantar Fasciitis
- Intramedullary Memory Implant
- Subtalar Implant/Fusion
- Tarsal Tunnel Decompression
- Tendon Transfer/Repair
- Triple Arthrodesis
- Weil Osteotomy for Claw Toe
We encourage you to visit one of Orthopedic Associates two locations or request an appointment today to be on your way to feeling better.
