new lisfranc injury/ Do I really need surgery?

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Hi. I had an accident crossing the road. I was diagnosed Lisfranc injury and was taken straight away to surgery. I had a compartment syndrom because of this and my foot was left opened for 3 days until swelling went down.
I had 2 wires between 1st and 2nd metatarsus.
After 8 weeks, they removed the wires and I started physio.
Now, after 8 months of the accident I can walk fine, but some pain remains. If I dont use my foot it goes stiff until I warm it up again.
Im running in the gym and doing a normal life, but still not doing any sport.

Doctor said it still needs more time to heal and arthrosis could develop in the future.

Hope this is helpful to all of you who had a similar accident or thinking if an operation is good or bad.
Keep in touch with several doctors if you have the chance and see what's the best. I couldnt choose since I was lifted from the street and went straight to surgery and I believe the diagnosis was correct.

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My husband was run over by a piece of construction equipment at work back on Oct 2, 2006. His right foot/ankle/knee/ hip and lower back were injured. The foot has been the worst injury. Nothing was majorly fractured, but the dr. ordered a bone scan. The scan showed severe damage to the midfoot section. The dr. suggested that we try 6 weeks of physical therapy following 9 weeks non weight bearing and in a knee high boot. My husband is still not able to bear weight on the ball of his foot and we are now 5 months plus post surgery. We had a CAT scan done a few weeks ago and it showed fractures and damage to the midfoot joints. The dr. has suggested fusion of the 2 and 3 midfoot cunieform joints as well as the lisfranc joint. He also mentioned that they might have to take bone from his knee and use it to fill in his foot during surgery. He also said that the screws would stay in unless they bothered my husband. I am scared. We have been through so much and have not even addressed the knee and hip injuries because he has not been able to bear weight to rehabilitate them. Anything else I should know or be prepared for?

Thanks.

chr · Newbie Joined: 10 Jul 2007 Posts: 1

I had surgery 4 weeks ago. I still have 2 more weeks to go in the cast. They were able to fix mine with a cable, so I don't have to worry about having the screws removed. The surgery was horrible though and I still have a long road ahead of me.

LimpyOne · Newbie Joined: 06 Oct 2007 Posts: 1

I had the surgery this past June (07) and my doctor used both staples and a bone graft from my ankle to fuse three of the bones. I was in a hard cast for 8 weeks, then an air cast (removable) for 4 weeks. I have been without cast for 2 weeks now, and my foot is still too swollen to wear a regular shoe. So I wrap it with an ace bandage and use a post-op shoe (with the velcro). There is still some pain and stiffness, but it is slowly improving.
One thing I have noticed, and that I have not seen addressed anywhere, is that my foot is still very sensitive to the touch. The skin is hypersensitive in some areas, and simple things like putting on a sock, or putting my bare foot through a pantleg is very uncomfortable. This is another reason I wrap the foot in the ace bandage, to prevent things from rubbing against the skin. Has anyone else had this experience?? Thanks.

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hey i remember reading these stories when i was still non weight bearing and really depressed, but I've had a full recovery so I though i'd share my story to give some hope. I fell about 14 feet off a balcony and fractured 2nd, 3rd, and 4th metatarsals and sprained my ankle, and fractured a lot of the smaller bones in my ankle. Anyways, i didn't have surgery but I had to wear crutches and a boot. After a few weeks i started cheating and weight bearing, despite reading that this would be really dangerous. My doctors warned me that i might never walk the same again, it would take a long time to fully heal, and that I would get arthritis which was really depressing as I'm only 20 years old. Anyways, I couldn't help myself and I kept on cheating, walking around without my boot and crutches whenever I was at home. After six weeks i completely stopped using crutches and tried wearing normal shoes. This was ridiculously painful and uncomfortable at first, but soon it got better and better. Its been six months now since I broke my foot, and it's completely back to normal. I don't have arthritis or anything. sometimes i have a dull pain in my foot but i honestly don't even notice it anymore because it's nothing compared to when my foot first broke. All is well, and it's been fine for a good few months. I broke my foot in July and by October my foot was essentially healed.

Lenasin · Newbie Joined: 10 Mar 2008 Posts: 1 Location: Connecticut

Right before Christmas I fell down stairs and broke the lisfanc joint. Luckily I had an emergency room doctor that said although my x-rays looked like no broken bones, he suspected a lisfranc injury and to see an orthopedic surgeon. The cat scans confirmed it. The doctors in the practice did not concur as to whether I needed surgery, or just a non-weight bearing cast, so I went to the top specialist for this type of injury in the area, and he said that if it was his foot, he'd go with the cast only and maybe later on the fusion surgery would be needed. I had a cast for 8 weeks and have now been in physical therapy for 3 weeks. I can now put some weight on my foot, but it is painful and I'm walking with quite a limp. Being 51, maybe I don't heal as quickly. I am using semi-rigid arch supports in a shoe that a shank was put in so that the foot won't bend. My instep is very painful, as well as the top of my foot. I must say though, that I'm still hopeful that the pain will diminish as time goes on. I was an avid hiker and walker, so this is depressing for me.

Karen Rosenbloom · Newbie Joined: 26 Mar 2008 Posts: 1

I injured my foot in July 07. Lisfranc, first & second metatarsal fractures, a completely torn anterior ligament and a bruised bone. I also developed what they called Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome. My foot and leg were cold and discolored and extremely sensitive. I advised the doctor of the symptoms and needed 5 nerve blocks to correct the problem and thankfully they did. However, I am still experiencing pins & needles at times and it is still painful, although much better. I cannot wear a hard shoe. I use orthodics. It was a month after my injury that my doc ordered MRI's and found all of the injuries. At first they thought sprain but after weeks of severe swelling, they woke up. Anyway, I didn't have surgery because of the CRPS, which I was told could get worse with surgery. Since the CRPS was pretty much cleared up I asked the doc about surgery again since I still cannot wear a hard shoe or get a boot on my foot and he said that surgery still might make it worse. The sensitivity levels are extreme with the lisfranc injury and nerve damage even at 6 months later. My doc says I am lucky because he has seen much worse in the healing and life changes with this condition. Being a woman, shoes are a big deal for me, but I guess I should be thankful that I am able to walk at all, right? I suggest that if anyone with this injury has the symptoms I spoke of, advise your doctor right away if they don't see it first. The sooner the nerve damage is attended to, the better. I am still unsure if I should persue surgery thru another doctor ( just so I can wear boots? I love my boots!) you can always find one willing, but is my doctor correct in saying that the surgery might make it worse? I guess it's everyone for themselves on this decision Kimmie. It's been a while since your post...did you have the surgery?

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I would be very interested in more details regarding your injury Kimmy. Please contact if possible. thank you.

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Ok reading all these posts has made me want to join in the scrum. About me-- 34 year old male. I fell 20 feet off a ladder and suffered a 2mm displacement of the lisfranc joint between the first and sec. medatarsal. Yes my spelling is horrible. I fell and was diagnosed the next day. Had surgery 1 week later( swelling had to come down) with 2 screws inserted. I am presently 3 weeks post surgery in my hard cast. 3 more weeks in the hard cast then I go to the "robo boot". My question to you all is how long was it before you all were walking normal. I need to go back to work, but have to be walking normal since I'm an airline pilot. Also when did most of you resume normal exercise-- running, jumping, basketball, ect... Thanx guys

mickriley · Newbie Joined: 19 Jul 2008 Posts: 1

My 16 year old daughter injured her foot in May while long jumping. The initial diagnoses was a deep bruise. After several weeks and little improvement we took her to a specialist that diagnosed the problem as a Lisfranc injury. We were then informed of the severity of these injuries and the potential that this could bring an end to her athletics (track and volleyball). She immediately broke down and I stood there stunned.

I immediately began educating myself on the injury. The deeper I dig the more depressing the situation becomes. My daughter is scheduled to have surgery Friday (7/25/0 Cool

. Three screws will be placed in her foot for 6 weeks. We've been told that the recovery will take 6 months, much of which she will not be able to place any weight on this foot.

Has anyone had a full recovery from this injury? Or at least been able to continue an active athletic lifestyle? My daughters life revolves around athletics, I'm extremely concerned that she will be crushed if this part of her life is taken from her.

Any advice or hope?
Thank you.

new lisfranc injury/ Do I really need surgery?

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