What Is a Lisfrancs Fracture?
A fracture is a break in the bone. However a Lisfrancs fractures really involves the rupture of ligament (called Lisfranc’s ligament) that stabilizes the entire midfoot (an area called the tarsaometatarsal complex). When this ligament is torn, it alters the alignment bases of the metarsal bones and the cuniform bones. These injuries are very difficult to recognize and are very frequently missed. In fact, one study (for which Dr. Segler won an award from the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons) showed that 98.6% of the x-ray findings suggested of these injuries were missed by board certified Emergency Room Physicians. And they are often debilitating injuries if not properly treated. All fractures of the mid-foot warrant an evaluation by a foot fracture specialist, even if initial treatment has been started in the emergency room.
Traumatic fractures (also known as acute fractures) are caused by the application of force or trauma. This can be an impact such as a direct blow. Examples include, auto accidents, kicking a door jamb, or dropping a heavy object on the top of the foot. When evaluating traumatic fractures it is critical for your doctor to determine whether the broken bone is displaced or nondisplaced. In displaced fractures, the bone is not only broken, but it is also moved out of alignment. In this case, it is said to be dislocated. Treatment of these fractures depends on the extend of injury, the amount of displacement, and whether or not the joint surface is involved. Surgery is sometimes required to put the bone back into proper position and stabilize it so it can heal.
You might have a foot fracture if you notice any of the following:
• You hear a sound at the time of the break.
• “Pinpoint tenderness” (pain or tenderness at the location of injury) at the time the fracture occurs and maybe even several hours later. This can be deceiving, because sometimes, the pain goes away after several hours.
• Deviation or mal-alignment (crooked, mis-shapen or abnormal appearance) of the foot or arch.
• Bruising and swelling on the top of the foot that starts within 48 hours of the injury.
• It is simply not true that “if you can walk on it, it can’t be broken.” We see people walking into our office with fractures all the time. Because of this, if you suspect you have a fracture, you should get in for an evaluation as soon as possible. We reserve slots for emergency appointments every day so you won’t have to wait to get taken care of.
Sprains and fractures can have similar symptoms. With a sprain, a broader area of the foot will ache, rather than just a certain point of tenderness. We can easily diagnose the problem and start you on the correct treatment. This will help you get back to your activities as fast as possible. But keep in mind that some sprains and dislocations can be truly disabling. Without the right treatment you can develop severe arthritis.
Potential Problems of Improper Fracture Treatment
We often see people in the office who will say “I thought that there isn’t anything that can be done for a broken bone in the foot.” False! In fact, if a fractured metatarsal bone in the foot is not treated correctly, you can develop serious problems. For example:
• A permanent deformity in the bone alignment and structure can develop and limit the ability to walk on the foot or fit into shoes.
• Arthritis is often caused by an untreated fracture that involves a break in the joint surface. In some cases, when the bone isn’t realigned, an angular deformity develops and causes problems.
• Chronic foot pain and long-term difficulties with walking, running or standing.
• Non-union, (failure of the broken bone to heal), can lead to surgery or chronic pain.
Lisfrancs Fracture Treatment
The best treatment of a midfoot fracture will depend on the specifics of the fracture, but may include:
• Rest. Sometimes rest is all that is needed to heal a stress fracture of a metatarsal bone, but Lisfranc’s fractures usually need surgery to stabilize the injured area..
• Avoid the activity that led to the fracture.
It is important to make sure that you don’t injury the area further. If soccer, basketball or running caused the fracture, stop running until you get an evaluation. Don’t make it worse. Sometimes you might have to stay off the foot entirely with the help of crutches or a wheelchair in order to allow it to heal.
• Immobilization, casting, or stiff shoe. A cast, stiff shoe or fracture walking boot might be needed to protect and stabilize the fractured bone while it is healing.
• Surgery. Depending upon the extent of the injury, some midfoot fractures will heal much better with surgery to re-align and stabilize the bone. This is true for Lisfranc fractures.
• Follow-up treatment. You will receive detailed instructions for treatment after both surgical and non-surgical metatarsal fracture treatment. Physical therapy, strengthening exercises and rehabilitation will help get you back to your athletic activities as quickly as possible.
