The Health Blog

The Lisfranc joint line describes the anatomic boundary between the rigid midfoot and the suppler weightbearing forefoot. Instability or disruption of normal support can lead to significant pain and disability for normal ambulation.

What causes Lisfranc fracture dislocation?
The 2 major causes of Lisfranc injuries are low-energy loading observed in sports-related injuries and high-energy loading observed in motor vehicle and industrial accidents.

What is the treatment for Lisfranc injury?
There are two types of Lisfranc injury - the one which is anatomically stable and the other one with nonanatomic alignment. Consult an orthopedic surgeon. He will run imaging studies to see how badly the joint is affected.

These two types have different management.

Anatomically stable: Initial treatment usually consist of a well-molded short cast worn for a minimum of 6 weeks. Your doctor might order regular radiologic studies for the affected area to ensure continued anatomic alignment.

Nonanatomically aligned: Surgical therapy is the treatment of choice.

For more information about Lisfranc injury, visit the American Academy of Family Physicians’ website.