If you’re a fan of the AFL or sports in general, you may have heard of an injury called ‘Lisfranc’ injury. Over the past few years, the Lisfranc injury term has been brought up among high profile athletes.
For example, Dane Swan who famously played for Collingwood suffered a Lisfranc injury in 2016 that ultimately brought an end to his AFL career. It was a horrific injury with many of the initial reports indicating a fractured fibula. You can watch his famous injury here
Lisfranc injuries involve the displacement of the metatarsal bones from the tarsus and most commonly, it relates to the second tarsometatarsal joint and the Lisfranc ligament.
Diagnosis of a Lisfranc Injury is not always straightforward and often symptom presentation can be delayed.
Five Warning Signs of Lisfranc Injuries can include:
1. Difficulty with weight bearing
2. The foot may be discoloured, swollen and painful
3. Palpable tenderness along the tarsometatarsal joints
4. Pain with running on the toes and with push-off phase of running
5. Pain with a stress examination of the midfoot
Lisfranc injuries can include sprains, dislocations, fractures or all three at the same time. Ouch! It can also be caused by an indirect or direct trauma at the Lisfranc joint and is mostly the result of the combined external rotation and compression force.
Treatment
Early diagnosis of a Lisfranc injury is crucial for proper management and the prevention of a poor functional outcome. With a general knowledge of both conservative and operative treatment options, consideration of the patient’s goals and expectations, a podiatrist can decide whether to treat the injury nonoperatively or refer the patient to a specialist.
If you would like to know more about Lisfranc Injuries, feel free to give us a call on 8468 2411 or book online here
Yours in keeping you healthy, happy and comfortable,
The Team at the Whittlesea Foot & Ankle Clinic
