A fractured foot may also be referred to as a Lisfranc fracture. The Lisfranc joint is located on the top of your foot and is the location where the metatarsal bones, sometimes known as the “bridges to your toes,” link to the remainder of your foot.
This is a difficult part of your foot to examine. It is the location where several bones, ligaments, and tendons all join together to help maintain the arch of your foot and ensure that it moves correctly. The Lisfranc joint is a highly significant area of the foot because it is the location where several different components of the foot come together. It’s the same as a busy on-ramp to a highway or a major junction in a city; to ensure that everything functions well, a relatively small region bears a great deal of responsibility.
It is possible to injure any area of your lisfranc joint. Injuries to the lisfranc joint are almost always the result of a collision or another kind of trauma. Athletes can hurt their lisfranc joints while participating in sports. However, an injury may also be caused by something as simple as stumbling or falling while going about your day. Lisfranc fractures and injuries may also be caused by major trauma, such as being involved in a vehicle accident or falling off of a ladder. You must have broken at least one bone to have a fracture. However, you may also rip or sprain any of the connective tissues that are found in the joint if it is injured.
How Serious Are Lisfranc Injuries?
A Lisfranc injury is very serious, but it won’t kill you. Because the Lisfranc joint is so important to your ability to walk, run, or move, breaking any of the bones in it or hurting any of the ligaments and tendons that support it can have a big effect on your quality of life.
You should see a doctor or nurse as soon as possible about your injury. This will help you figure out what is wrong and which treatments will help you get better.
Each Lisfranc injury is different because the severity of the initial injury and any damage to the bones makes it so
What Are The Symptoms of A Lisfranc Fracture?
Most of the time, a Lisfranc injury causes:
1. Black and blue marks on the bottom of the foot (very likely a Lisfranc injury)
2. Bumps or blisters on the top of the foot’s arch
3. A puffy foot
4. Pain throughout the foot, especially when putting pressure on it.
5. Inability to hold anything
6. The foot is getting wider than normal.
These can also be signs of less serious injuries, but it’s important to see a doctor get a proper diagnosis. If the pain and swelling don’t go away after a day or two of rest, ice, and putting your foot up, you may have a Lisfranc injury and should see a doctor as soon as possible.
How Is A Lisfranc Fracture Treated?
Non-Surgical Treatment
If you don’t have a Lisfranc fracture, or if your broken bones aren’t too far out of place, and if your ligaments aren’t too damaged, your doctor will put a cast or boot on your hurt foot. This will hold your hurt foot in place and keep you from putting weight on it. It will also lessen the stress on your foot. You may also need to keep your foot raised as much as possible, especially right after you hurt it. You might also need to use crutches to make sure you can’t put weight on the hurt foot.
After six to eight weeks, your doctor will check on your progress, often with X-rays. As part of your physical therapy plan, you should be able to put some weight back on your foot if your Lisfranc injury has healed well enough and you are no longer in pain.
Surgical Treatment
If your injury hurts the bones and ligaments in your foot badly or moves them out of their normal place, you will probably need surgery. This is very important after major accidents or trauma. A surgeon will put plates and screws into your foot while your bones and connective tissues heal. This will help your foot get back to its original shape. Lisfranc surgery is usually done on an outpatient basis, which means that you will probably go home the same day. Expect to wear a cast and boot for up to three months after your surgery.
How Long Does It Take To Recover From Lisfranc injury Treatment?
Lisfranc injuries can be very bad and take months to get better. People with strains or sprains might need six to eight weeks to get better. Those who need surgery will likely need three to five months to get better.
As with any injury, it’s important to do what your doctor tells you to do to heal. The plan for getting better will be different for each person, but it will likely include the following steps:
Resting, applying ice, and raising the foot will help reduce swelling and help the body heal faster. If you stay off your foot for a long time (usually six to eight weeks), the foot will have time to heal.
After surgery, it will be important to avoid high-impact activities for three to five months. Before putting too much stress on the foot in a way that could slow down the healing process, you should talk to your doctor.
Emma is a Master of Science candidate at the California Institute of Technology. Since approximately four years ago, she has been a freelance writer, producing content for newspapers, magazines, blogs, and the internet