Background: Lisfranc injury is rare and the diagnosis maybe easily missed. This study reviews the experience of a single centre.
Methods: A prospective review of patients with Lisfranc injuries presenting to a single surgeon with a specialist interest in foot and ankle surgery over a one year period.
Results: Five patients were identified--four men and one woman with a median age of 31 years (range 22-50 years). Presentation was a mean of 25 days after injury (range 3-56 days). The left foot was affected in three cases and the right in two. There was joint diastasis in four patients and fracture-dislocation in one. Three patients presented early and were treated by internal fixation and two presented late and were managed conservatively. Mean follow-up was eight months (range 4.5-12 months). Surgery resulted in a return to work by 6 months with no symptoms. The two patients managed conservatively continued to experience pain at 12 months and were unable to return to their original occupations.
Conclusion: Injury to the Lisfranc joint should be excluded in any foot injury. Early diagnosis and internal fixation appears to result in an earlier return to work when compared to non-operative management.