Fixation of the LisFranc Injury
WHAT IS FIXATION FOR LISFRANC INJURY?
Lisfranc (midfoot) injuries result if bones in the midfoot are broken or ligaments that support the midfoot are torn. The severity of the injury can vary from simple to complex, involving many joints and bones in the midfoot.
A Lisfranc injury is often mistaken for a simple sprain, especially if the injury is a result of a straightforward twist and fall. However, injury to the Lisfranc joint is not a simple sprain that should be simply “walked off.” It is a severe injury that may take many months to heal and may require surgery to treat.
The goal of fixation for a Lisfranc injury is to realign the joints and return the broken (fractured) bone fragments to a normal position so that they can heal.
TREATMENT FOR LISFRANC INJURY
In fixation for Lisfranc injury treatment, the bones are positioned correctly (reduced) and held in place with plates or screws. Because the plates or screws will be placed across joints that normally have some motion, some or all of this hardware may be removed at a later date. This can vary from 3 to 5 months after surgery, and is at the surgeon’s discretion.
Occasionally, the hardware may break before it is removed. This is not unusual when screws or plates span bones that have some movement. Metal can fatigue and fail under these conditions, just as a paperclip will fail if bent repeatedly. Most often surgery is successful even if some of the hardware fails.
RECOVERY TIME FOR LISFRANC INJURY
After surgery, a period of nonweightbearing for 6 to 8 weeks is recommended in a cast or cast boot. Weightbearing is started while the patient is in the boot, if the x-rays look appropriate after 6 to 8 weeks. The amount of weight a patient can put on their foot, as well as the distance the patient is allowed to walk, is at the surgeon’s discretion. Impact activities, such as running and jumping, should be avoided until the hardware has been removed.
