Your Lisfranc joint is a group of bones and ligaments in your midfoot where the five metatarsal bones meet up with the cuboid bone and the medial, middle and lateral cuneiform bones. Strong ligaments hold these bones in place, and the Lisfranc joint as a whole helps to stabilize your foot arch and transfer stress from the lower leg to your toes while walking.
The Lisfranc is a pretty protected joint, but it’s not immune from injury, and because of the pivotal role it plays in your foot, a Lisfranc injury can be particularly bothersome. In today’s blog, we take a closer look at some common Lisfranc injuries, and we discuss some treatment options.
Common Lisfranc Injuries
As we mentioned in the introduction, Lisfranc injuries are pretty rare. Only about 0.2% of all reported broken bones are Lisfranc fractures, and only 1 in every 55,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with a Lisfranc fracture each year. The location in the midfoot means it has plenty of natural protection, but high-energy trauma from athletic competition, car accidents or falls from a great height can all result in a Lisfranc injury.
Some of the most common Lisfranc injuries:
Lisfranc sprain: When any of the three Lisfranc ligaments stretch or partially tear
Lisfranc fracture: When any of the bones in the Lisfranc joint break
Lisfranc dislocation: When a bone is moved out of place in the joint
Symptom of a Lisfranc injury are similar regardless of what type of injury you suffered, although symptoms may be more severe if you suffer a more significant injury. Some common symptoms of Lisfranc injuries include:
- Pain
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Tenderness
All of these symptoms are most common on the top of the foot, near the midfoot area. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, reach out to your primary care physician or a foot and ankle specialist like Dr. Silverman.
Treating Lisfranc Injuries
It’s important to ensure correct healing following a Lisfranc injury, otherwise symptoms may linger for an extended period. Mild or moderate Lisfranc sprains may be able to fully heal without surgery, although you can expect to be in a walking boot for a upwards of eight weeks to protect the area as it heals. Once the boot is removed, patients will pursue weeks of physical therapy to strengthen the joint and its supportive structures to ensure it can handle a normal amount of stress.
If you suffered a dislocation, a fracture or a complete ligament tear, surgery will likely be your recommended course of action. Surgery is focused on securing proper alignment for the bones that make up the joint. Oftentimes surgical hardware is used to hold the joint in place as healing runs its course. Patients can expect to be in a cast or boot for 8-12 weeks after their operation, and full recovery can take up to a year. Giving full effort during physical therapy sessions can help to speed up your recovery timeline.