02/14/2013    

PODIATRISTS IN THE NEWS

Lisfranc Injury: Easy to Miss, Hard to Get Over- OH Podiatrist

Elite athletes like NFL quarterback Matt Schaub and wide receiver Santonio Holmes had productive seasons ended by the little-known and often overlooked Lisfranc injury, a serious foot injury that few have heard of and no one wants. But foot and ankle surgeons at the Annual Scientific Conference of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS) this week are evaluating how to effectively diagnose and treat this injury, which can result in severe long-term complications like chronic pain, osteoarthritis and even foot deformities.

Dr. Mark Hardy

Relatively uncommon, found in only 1 of every 55,000-60,000 people annually, Lisfranc injuries occur in the midfoot – where the long bones leading up to the toes (metatarsals) connect to the bones in the arch (tarsals). “The Lisfranc complex is a critical joint in propulsion during walking and running. Unfortunately, injuries there are easily overlooked. As many as thirty percent of Lisfranc injuries are missed at initial diagnosis by providers who are not foot and ankle specialists. The long-term effects can be debilitating,” observes Cleveland, OH foot and ankle surgeon Mark Hardy, DPM, FACFAS, and a conference presenter.