Lisfranc Injuries in Athletes

Lisfranc injuries of the foot seem to be stealing the headlines lately. Both Cedric Benson, NFL running back for the Green Bay Packers, and Santonio Holmes, wide receiver for the New York Jets both recently suffered from Lisfranc injuries. Santonio Holmes injury was bad enough the Jets team doctors determined he will not play for the remainder of the season. While Lisfranc injuries may not be as common as ACL tears, they definitely are relevant in traumatic sports injuries, and often go undiagnosed.

So, what exactly is a Lisfranc’s injury? It’s an injury to the midfoot that involves either the transverse joint that spans the midfoot, or the ligament that connects the medial cuneiform and 2nd metatarsal bones. Both the aforementioned joint and ligament are named after French surgeon Jacques Lisfranc de St. Martin. When an athlete suffers a so-called Lisfranc injury, most often times the ligament has been sprained or ruptured due to excessive force with abnormal motion, and/or impact. The significance here is that Lisfranc’s ligament has a huge role in supporting the medial arch of the foot during standing, walking, and running for example, and an injury to the area requires proper rehab, and sometimes surgery for full recovery. Symptoms seen with this injury include midfoot swelling, redness, pain, and inability to bear weight.This isn’t an injury that will heal well on it’s own with simple rest and icing. Lisfranc injuries should be assessed for severity, and treated by a doctor to achieve proper healing, prevent osteoarthritis secondary to the trauma, and avoid loss of joint range of motion.


**This blog, and the medical information it presents is made possible by Dr. Michael Garvin of Port Saint Lucie, Florida. He has been practicing board certified podiatry for over 20 years, and accepts new patients. Visit his website for additional information here. To schedule an appointment, or find directions to his office click here.