If you’re a Carolina Panthers fan, we at Affiliated Foot & Ankle Care know that’s a question you may have been asking yourself earlier this season when it was given as the reason that quarterback Cam Newton was sidelined indefinitely.
The Lisfranc joint is located where the metatarsal bones (the long bones that go to your toes) and the bones in your arch (known as tarsal bones) meet and connect. A strong band of tissue that joins two of these bones is called the Lisfranc ligament. This area of the foot can be injured due to a sprain (an overstretching of the ligament), fracture or dislocation. Lisfranc injuries are more common in football players and those athletes who play other contact sports. They are also seen in accident victims, horseback riders and runners. An injury to the Lisfranc can also occur due to a heavy object falling on that area of the foot.
Proper Diagnosis is Key
Lisfranc injuries are sometimes misdiagnosed as ankle sprains. Some of the symptoms are similar and can include:
If you have these types of symptoms, our podiatrists, Dr. Varun Gujral and Dr. Nrupa Shah, will want to know just how the injury occurred. In addition to examining your foot physically, the podiatrist will mostly likely want to get an x-ray or other imaging study. In some cases, the foot doctor will want to do an additional examination while you are under anesthesia to evaluate the joint and surrounding bone.
Treatment Options
The treatment of a Lisfranc issue will depend on the specific type of injury and its severity. Options include immobilization of the foot with a cast and possibly crutches to avoid weight bearing, oral medications, icing the affect area and physical therapy. In some cases, surgery is required.
It’s important if you sustain any kind of a sports injury that you make an appointment at our Edison (732-204-6630), Monroe (732-204-6802) or Monmouth Junction (732-204-6945) office as soon as possible. Stay off the injured foot, ice it periodically and keep it elevated until you can see the foot doctor.
