Football Lisfranc Injury Stops Wide Receiver in His Tracks
Even if Alshon Jeffery wanted to play in the playoffs, he wasn’t able to. Jeffery, wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles, suffered a serious foot injury in a December game. The damage to his foot, called a Lisfranc injury, will keep him on the rehab list for 9 months.
What Is a Lisfranc Injury?
The Lisfranc joint and injury are named after Jacques Lisfranc de St. Martin, a nineteenth-century French surgeon who identified this fracture pattern in 1815 cavalrymen.
The Lisfranc joint is in the foot where the metatarsal bones – those that lead to the toes – and the tarsal bones in the arch connect. The ligament joining these bones, called the Lisfranc ligament, helps maintain the strength and proper alignment of the joint.
A Lisfranc injury can be a sprain causing joint instability, a fracture or a dislocation. Symptoms can include:
Swelling
Pain in the midfoot under pressure or when standing
Bruising on the arch or top of the foot
Inability to bear weight
Abnormal widening of the foot
In addition to football players, Lisfranc injuries most commonly occur to vehicle accident victims, runners, horseback riders, and participants in other contact sports. However, you may experience this injury when simply missing a step on a staircase or having something heavy fall on your foot.
Diagnosing and Treating Lisfranc Injuries
It’s important to have this type of injury diagnosed by our experienced podiatrists because the symptoms are similar to an ankle sprain. We will take x-rays right in our office and manipulate the foot to assess the severity of the injury.
Until you can get in to our office, ice the foot 20 minutes out of each waking hour to minimize swelling. Rest and keep the foot elevated.
Depending on our findings, our treatments may include:
Immobilization in a cast
Avoid weight-bearing by using crutches
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, with your doctor’s permission, can help ease pain and inflammation
Icing and elevating the foot can keep swelling down
Physical therapy is a good idea after the swelling has subsided
Some Lisfranc injuries, such as the one that Alshon Jeffery suffered, require surgery. A long period of rehabilitation and physical therapy will help reduce the risk of reinjury.
We Can Help with Any Foot or Ankle Injury
The foot specialists at PodiatryCare, PC and the Heel Pain Center have extensive experience in treating all aspects of foot problems. Our team of doctors which consists of Dr. Robert Marra, Dr. Thomas Johnson, Dr. Kristen Winters, Dr. Laura Vander Poel, and Dr. Matthew Tshudy is dedicated to serving you with all of the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies. Many treatments and surgeries can be handled right in our offices. Please call us at (860) 741-3041 to make an appointment in one of our offices in Hartford County, conveniently located in Enfield and South Windsor, CT.