Imaging of Lisfranc Injury
Greg Cvetanovich, Harvard Medical School Year IV
Gillian Lieberman, MD
November 2011
Greg Cvetanovich, MS4
Gillian Lieberman, MD
2
Agenda
• Case Presentation
• Introduction
• Anatomy
• Lisfranc Injury
• Classification
• Imaging
• Treatment
Greg Cvetanovich, MS4
Gillian Lieberman, MD
3
Case Presentation
• 72M with Parkinson’s disease presents with R foot
injury, sustained while walking
– Severe pain, swelling, and inability to bear weight
– Exquisite tenderness to palpation over 2nd
tarsometatarsal joint, somewhat less tender over
remaining tarsometatarsal joints
– Plantar ecchymosis
– Neurovascularly intact distally
– No evidence of compartment syndrome
Greg Cvetanovich, MS4
Gillian Lieberman, MD
4
Radiograph
- Standing AP of bilateral feet
- Left:
- No acute fracture or dislocation
- Right:
- Widening between 1st and 2nd
metatarsal bases
- Loss of normal colinearity of
medial border of 2nd metatarsal
with medial border of middle
cuneiform
- “Fleck” fractures around base of
second metatarsal
- Fractures of bases of first,
second, and third metatarsals,
medial and middle cuneiforms,
and navicular, with intra-articular
extension
Æ Lisfranc Injury
Greg Cvetanovich, MS4
Gillian Lieberman, MD
BIDMC PACS
5
Jacques Lisfranc
• Jacques Lisfranc de St. Martin (1790-1847)
– French surgeon and gynecologist
– While serving in Napoleon’s army, described an
injury to the tarsometatarsal (TMT) joint in a
soldier who fell from a horse with his foot
caught in the stirrup
– This unfortunate soldier sustained a vascular
injury as well and underwent partial amputation
of the foot at the TMT joint, which Lisfranc
reportedly performed in under 1 minute
• “Lisfranc” eponym is currently applied to
various structures of and injuries to the
TMT joint complex
Greg Cvetanovich, MS4
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Lisfranc
http://www.whonamedit.com/doctor.cfm/2572.html; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Jacques_Lisfranc.jpg
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Anatomy: Lisfranc Joint Complex
Greg Cvetanovich, MS4
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Hatem SF. Radiol Clin N Am, 2008; Watson TS, et al. JAAOS, 2010; Thompson MC, et al. JAAOS, 2003
Ligamentous Stability
Osseous Stability
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Introduction: Lisfranc Injuries
• Range from mild sprains to severe
dislocations
– Associated with tarsal and metatarsal fractures
• ~0.2% of all fractures
• 20% are missed/misdiagnosed initially
– Especially in polytraumatized patients
• Mechanism:
– 2/3 are high energy (MVA, fall from height,
industrial accident)
– 1/3 are low energy (~4% of American football
players per season)
– Twisting, axial loading, and/or crushing
• High index of suspicion necessary
– Goal: avoid sequelae of posttraumatic arthritis
Greg Cvetanovich, MS4
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Lisfranc
Watson TS, et al. JAAOS, 2010; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Jacques_Lisfranc.jpg
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Clinical Evaluation: Lisfranc Injuries
• Pain, midfoot swelling, variable deformity
• Unable to bear weight
• Plantar ecchymosis is pathognomonic
– Plantar ecchymosis sign
• Diastasis between 1st and 2nd metatarsals
– Gap sign
• Tender to palpation over dorsal TMT joints
• Stress testing for pain +/- midfoot instability
• Carful neurovascular exam is key
– Dorsalis pedis artery passes between 1st and 2nd
metatarsals, in danger during injury or treatment
– Compartment syndrome is common, especially with
high energy mechanisms
Greg Cvetanovich, MS4
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Watson TS, et al. JAAOS, 2010; Thompson MC, et al. JAAOS, 2003
www.orthofootankle.com/tag/lisfranc-injury/;
www.emedicine.medscape.com
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*
Radiographic Evaluation: Lisfranc Injuries
• AP Radiographs
– Loss of normal colinearity of medial border of second metatarsal with
medial border of middle cuneiform
– Diastasis between first and second metatarsals >2.7mm (*)
– Small bony fragments (“fleck sign” *) at base of second metatarsal or
medial cuneiform, avulsed by disrupted Lisfranc ligament
Greg Cvetanovich, MS4
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Hatem SF. Radiol Clin N Am, 2008; BIDMC PACS
Normal Lisfranc Injury
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Radiographic Evaluation: Lisfranc Injuries
• Oblique Radiographs
– Loss of normal alignment of 2nd-4th TMT joints
Greg Cvetanovich, MS4
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Hatem SF. Radiol Clin N Am, 2008; BIDMC PACS
Normal Lisfranc Injury
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Radiographic Evaluation: Lisfranc Injuries
• Lateral Radiographs
– Dorsal displacement of the base of 2nd metatarsal
– Flattening of the longitudinal arch (not seen here)
Greg Cvetanovich, MS4
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Hatem SF. Radiol Clin N Am, 2008; BIDMC PACS
Normal Lisfranc Injury
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Radiographic Evaluation: Lisfranc Injuries
• If there is clinical suspicion of Lisfranc Injury despite normal
non-weight bearing radiographs, can obtain stress views:
– Weight-bearing AP radiographs to stress joint complex
– AP abduction and pronation stress view is rarely performed
• CT
– Improves detection and delineation of fractures, including
degree of comminution, intra-articular extension, and
interposed soft tissues that could impact reduction
– Especially useful in high velocity injuries
• MRI
– Allows direct visualization of integrity of the Lisfranc
ligament and surrounding soft tissue structures
– Especially useful in low velocity injuries and in the setting of
equivocal radiographic studies
Greg Cvetanovich, MS4
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Hatem SF. Radiol Clin N Am, 2008; Watson TS, et al. JAAOS, 2010
13
CT vs. Plain Radiograph of Same Foot
Student Name, year
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Note the extensive comminution and intra-articular extension
which are better seen on CT than plain radiograph
BIDMC PACS
14
Example of MRI of Lisfranc Injury
Greg Cvetanovich, MS4
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Hatem SF. Radiol Clin N Am, 2008; BIDMC PACS
Normal Lisfranc ligament
in Box (image from Hatem 2008) Lisfranc injury with avulsed base of
second metatarsal attached to intact
Lisfranc ligament
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Classification of Lisfranc Injuries
• Useful for describing injury and standardizing terminology, but
not useful for guiding treatment or prognosis
Greg Cvetanovich, MS4
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Hatem SF. Radiol Clin N Am, 2008; Watson TS, et al. JAAOS, 2010;
http://www2.aofoundation.org/wps/portal/!ut/p/c0/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3hng7BARydDRwN39yBTAyMvLwOLUA93I4MQE_2CbEdFAF3RnT4!/?segmen
t=Midfoot&bone=Foot&soloState=true&popupStyle=diagnosis&contentUrl=srg/popup/further_reading/PFxM2/80/6103_32_TMTLisfranc_fx_assess.jsp
Quenu and Kuss (1909)
A) Divergent: metatarsals displaced in sagittal
and coronal planes
B) Isolated: one or two metatarsals displaced
from the others
C) Homolateral: all 5 metatarsals displaced in
same direction
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Classification of Lisfranc Injuries
• Myerson (1986) classification aims to describe common injury
patterns and to attempt to aid in clinical decision making
Greg Cvetanovich, MS4
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Hatem SF. Radiol Clin N Am, 2008; Watson TS, et al. JAAOS, 2010;
17
Treatment of Lisfranc Injuries
• Goals:
– Painless, stable foot in good anatomic alignment
– Prevent posttramatic sequelae of instability, deformity, and arthritis
• Nonoperative management:
– Indicated for stable injuries, minimal displacement, and minimal fractures
• 1st MT to 2nd MT base diastasis <2mm greater than contralateral side
• TMT displacement <2mm greater than contralateral side
– Relative contraindications include: Charcot feet, inflammatory arthritis,
nonambulatory patient, severe medical comorbidity
– Short leg cast or walking boot for 6-10 weeks
– Initially non-weightbearing
– Repeat weightbearing radiographs at 2 weeks after injury to ensure no
osseous displacement or evidence of instability
– Progress to weightbearing as tolerated and physical therapy
Greg Cvetanovich, MS4
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Watson TS, et al. JAAOS, 2010; Thompson MC, et al. JAAOS, 2003
18
Treatment of Lisfranc Injuries
• Operative
– Indicated for unstable injuries
• Displacement of TMT or 1st-2nd MT joints >2mm compared to contralateral
– Anatomic reduction and stable fixation is critical to clinical outcome
– ORIF with screw fixation – most common
– Some use percutaneous K-wires or screws in unstable, nondisplaced injuries
– Primary arthrodesis may improve outcomes in primarily ligamentous injury
• Post-operative management
– Non-weightbearing cast or boot for 6-8 weeks
– Full weightbearing around 8 weeks post-operatively
– K-wire fixation removed around 6 weeks
– Screw fixation removed around 4-6 months, or left indefinitely
Greg Cvetanovich, MS4
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Watson TS, et al. JAAOS, 2010; Thompson MC, et al. JAAOS, 2003
19
Example: ORIF of Lisfranc Injury
Greg Cvetanovich, MS4
Gillian Lieberman, MD
BIDMC PACS
*
Pre-op ORIF
Hardware
removal
Left: pre-op radiograph showing Lisfranc injury
Middle: Screw fixation of medial and middle cuneiforms to the second and third
metatarsal bases, respectively, reducing and stabilizing this Lisfranc injury
Right: Painful hardware has been removed. Post-traumatic TMT arthritis is seen.
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Take Home Points for Radiologic
Diagnosis of Lisfranc Injuries
• Commonly missed/misdiagnosed
– High index of suspicion necessary
– Imaging findings can be subtle
• Check for gap between 1st and 2nd MT bases
• Check alignment of MTs with associated tarsals
• Cannot adequately evaluate lateral TMT joints on an AP film
– Must obtain oblique and lateral views
• Radiographs significantly underestimate subtle injuries and
associated fractures. If high clinical suspicion, consider:
– Stress films such as weightbearing (if patient can tolerate)
– CT
– MRI
Greg Cvetanovich, MS4
Gillian Lieberman, MD
21
References
• Watson TS, et al. Treatment of Lisfranc Joint Injury: Current Concepts. J Am
Acad Orthop Surg 2010;18: 718-728
• Anderson RB, et al. Management of Common Sports-Related Injuries About
the Foot and Ankle. J Am Acad Orthop Surg 2010;18: 546-556
• Thompson MC, et al. Injury to the Tarsometatarsal Joint Complex. J Am Acad
Orthop Surg 2003;11: 260-267
• Patel A, et al. Midfoot Arthritis. J Am Acad Orthop Surg 2010;18: 417-425
• Hatem SF. Imaging of Lisfranc Injury and Midfoot Sprain. Radiol Clin N Am
2008;46: 1045–1060
• American College of Radiology. ACR Appropriateness Criteria. Acute
Trauma to the Foot. 2010
• Rockwood, Green, and Wilkins’ Fractures, 7th Ed.
Student Name, year
Gillian Lieberman, MD
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Acknowledgements
Jay Patel, MD
Iva Petkovska, MD
Student Name, year
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Imaging of Lisfranc Injury
Agenda
Case Presentation
Radiograph
Jacques Lisfranc
Anatomy: Lisfranc Joint Complex
Introduction: Lisfranc Injuries
Clinical Evaluation: Lisfranc Injuries
Radiographic Evaluation: Lisfranc Injuries
Radiographic Evaluation: Lisfranc Injuries
Radiographic Evaluation: Lisfranc Injuries
Radiographic Evaluation: Lisfranc Injuries
CT vs. Plain Radiograph of Same Foot
Example of MRI of Lisfranc Injury
Classification of Lisfranc Injuries
Classification of Lisfranc Injuries
Treatment of Lisfranc Injuries
Treatment of Lisfranc Injuries
Example: ORIF of Lisfranc Injury
Take Home Points for Radiologic Diagnosis of Lisfranc Injuries
Slide Number 21
Acknowledgements