LISFRANC DISLOCATION

The Lisfranc joint, which represents the articulation between the midfoot and forefoot, is composed of the 5 tarsometatarsal (TMT) joints. The Lisfranc ligament is attached to the lateral margin of the medial cuneiform and medial and plantar surface of second metatarsal (MT) base. This is the only ligamentous support between first and second ray at midfoot level. Lisfranc joint injuries are rare, complex, and often misdiagnosed or inadequately treated. Lisfranc injuries can vary from simple ligament sprains to complete disruption of the TMT joint. Lisfranc fracture dislocations and sprains carry a high risk of chronic secondary disability. Best outcomes for these injuries require prompt recognition and then anatomic reduction and stabilization.

Etiology

The 2 major causes of Lisfranc injuries are low-energy, sports-related injuries and high-energy motor vehicle and industrial accidents. In low-energy settings, TMT injuries are caused by a direct blow to the joint or by axial loading along the MT, either with medially or laterally directed rotational forces. In high-energy injuries, the method of loading is not significantly different, but the energy absorbed by the articulations results in significantly more collateral damage to bony and soft-tissue structures, creating such injuries as MT fractures, cuneiform instabilities, and cuboid fractures.
The damage to the tight, ligamentous structures of this joint complex creates an unstable foot for weight bearing. The sense of instability and pain can occur whether or not overt evidence of instability is present. Chronic sprains resulting from relatively minor trauma can be the most debilitating sprains due to pain with weight bearing.

Pathophysiology

In diabetic patients with neuropathy or those with idiopathic insensate feet, subacute diastasis can occur over time without notable pain. Due to the absence of pain, this gradual process occurs, so that a minor injury can lead to a Lisfranc injury. In the authors’ opinion, the hallmark of an impending Lisfranc injury is the loss of the recess of the second MT base with the cuneiform, also known as the keystone. Radiographs are considered abnormal when weight-bearing anteroposterior (AP) views of the foot show the first TMT joint to be at the same level as the second TMT joint, indicating proximal migration of the first ray 

Presentation

Patients with Lisfranc injuries can present with obvious anatomic deformities or with variable amounts of pain with weight bearing. Lisfranc injury should be excluded in any patient with midfoot pain on either the dorsal or the plantar aspect of the foot during weight bearing.
Clinical signs of Lisfranc injury are the following:

• Swelling out of proportion with a normal radiograph
• Plantar midfoot ecchymosis 
• Pain along the TMT joints with palpation, motion, and/or weight bearing
• Midfoot instability

All suspected injuries require a careful workup. Even significant injuries can reduce spontaneously, thereby hiding the initial deformity. The exaggerated swelling is the key in the differential diagnosis of subtle injuries. Special attention should be paid to patients with decreased sensation in the feet, such as diabetics, because they may be more at risk for progressive neuropathic changes.
Athletes
Lisfranc injuries are seen more commonly in football players, gymnasts, ballet dancers, and track-and-field athletes. Lisfranc injury in a professional hockey player has also been reported.⁸ The Lisfranc injury can potentially be a career-ending injury, particularly in elite gymnasts, as noted by Chilvers and colleagues.⁹ The mechanism of injury for most athletes is axial loading on a hyperplantarflexed midfoot. For ballet dancers, the pointe shoe design has been shown to stabilize the Lisfranc joint while in the en pointe position.

Lisfranc injuries in athletes have been classified according to the American Medical Association’s Standard Nomenclature of Athletic Injuries. First- and second-degree sprains have been classified as partial ligament tears with swelling, focal pain, no instability, and normal radiographs. Instability and diastasis between the first and second MT of greater than 2 mm as seen on AP radiographs is consistent with a third-degree sprain.

Indications

Patients with undisplaced injuries are treated conservatively. Patients with displaced Lisfranc injuries should undergo closed or open reduction. All Lisfranc injuries that cannot be reduced and be made to remain stable by closed means should undergo internal fixation. An absolute indication for open reduction is vascular compromise that does not improve with closed reduction.

Relevant Anatomy

The Lisfranc joint is composed of 5 TMT joints in which the first through third MTs articulate with their corresponding medial, middle, and lateral cuneiforms. The fourth and fifth MTs articulate with the cuboid. The Lisfranc joint can be functionally divided longitudinally into the first ray, or medial column; the middle column, consisting of the second and third TMT joints; and the lateral column, consisting of the fourth and fifth TMT joints. A transverse line through these joints is not straight but highlights a recess, termed the keystone (similar to a Roman arch), formed by the second TMT joint. This joint lies approximately 1 cm proximal to the first TMT joint line and 0.5 cm proximal to the third TMT joint line.
The joints are bound by thick plantar ligaments that form an interlocking pattern between the tarsal and lesser MT bones 2-5. These are reinforced by attachments of the posterior tibialis tendon. The first TMT joint also has strong plantar ligaments across the joint; these are reinforced by the attachment of the peroneus longus and anterior tibialis tendons. Also present between the lesser MTs is a series of intermetatarsal ligaments, which force the group to function more as a unit. No intermetatarsal ligaments exist between the first and second MTs, which is why they often exhibit divergent behavior. The weaker dorsal ligaments explain the majority of dorsal dislocations.¹¹
The Lisfranc ligament originates from the plantar lateral aspect of the medial cuneiform and attaches to the plantar medial aspect of the second MT base. It is the thickest of the ligaments in this region, measuring up to 1 cm wide. This ligament provides the only soft-tissue link between the medial ray and the lesser MT and is responsible for this area's stability.
Motion at the TMT joints is variable. The second and third joints are the stiffest, with minimal motion in the dorsal/plantar plane and none in the medial or lateral plane. The third and first TMTs exhibit progressively more motion in both planes but still are relatively stiff and mainly function as areas of adjustment to allow the MT heads to share weight equally. The lateral 2 TMT joints demonstrate roughly 3 times more motion in the dorsal or plantar plane than does the first TMT joint. That motion is significant in the function of the foot and must be preserved to maintain normal function, especially if stiffness occurs in the medial and middle columns.
In the column theory, the middle column is more important for rigidity, and the medial and lateral columns are more important for shock absorption during gait. The lateral joints are more important for their mobile contributions to the balancing of forefoot weight bearing. This principle is important in treating these injuries.

Contraindications

Anatomic alignment is important for stable function, but the risk of infection and soft-tissue compromise may preclude surgery until the tissues stabilize. Patients with open injuries or vascular compromise should be approached carefully. A delayed fusion of the medial 3 TMT joints can be performed if pain persists with weight bearing

CARPAL DISLOCATIONS

Wrist dislocations are a continuum of perilunate injuries which range from disassociation to dislocation. The usual mechanism is a fall on an outstretched hand. The four successive stages of injury progress from radial to ulnar side and indicate increased carpal instability. The lateral view of the wrist is the optimal view to diagnose wrist dislocations using lines drawn through the radius which, in a normal wrist, should intersect the lunate and capitate. The AP view is also helpful in assessing three arcs which follow the proximal and distal surfaces of the scaphoid, lunate and triquetrum as well as the proximal surfaces of the hamate and capitate. Disruption of any one of these arcs is indicative of carpal disruption.
Scapholunate dissociation (stage 1) is rupture of the scapholunate ligament with greater than a 3 mm gap between the lunate and scaphoid (Terry-Thomas sign or David Letterman sign). A ring sign on the AP view may be seen secondary to rotary subluxation of the scaphoid.
Perilunate dislocation (stage 2) is 2-3 times more common than lunate dislocation. The capitate dislocates dorsally and the lunate maintains a normal articulation with the radius. Seventy-five percent of cases are accompanied by transcaphoid fractures. Triquetrum, capitate and ulnar styloid fractures can also be seen. Although the lunate may appear triangular in shape on the AP view of the wrist (normally rhomboid in shape), this is not pathognomonic for dislocation as it may appear triangular in normal flexion/extension as the lunate tilts.
Midcarpal dislocation (stage 3) is due to rupture of the triquetral ligaments. The lunate dislocates volarly and the capitate and carpus dislocate dorsally.
Lunate dislocation (stage 4) occurs when the lunate dislocates and rotates volarly and the capitate remains aligned with the radius. If undiagnosed, this can lead to median nerve impairment from compression.

Evaluation of focal bone lesions

Evaluation of focal bone lesions

Imaging the ankle and foot

 

SALTER FRACTURE CLASSIFICATION

Salter Classification
I	Shearing separation of epiphysis from metaphysis
II	Small segment of metaphysis taken with epiphysis (Thurston-Holland fragment)
III	Intra-articular epiphyseal without epiphyseal plate injury
IV	Vertical through metaphysis, epiphyseal plate and epiphysis
V	Crush Injury of epiphysis

85% are type I or II - good prognosis
Collateral ligament avulsion injuries are usually type II or III
Mallet fractures are usually type I 

 

SALTER 1

 

SALTER 2

 

SALTER 3

 

SALTER4

WRIST - NORMAL ANATIOMY

FIGURE 1

 

FIGURE 2 

 

FIGURE-3 

FIGURE-4 

FIGURE-5

NORMAL PELVIC ANATOMY

AP VIEW OF NORMAL PELVIS



AP VIEW OF PELVIS SHOWING IMPORTANT ANATOMICAL LINES

• The five bones that comprise the pelvis are the ilium, ischium, pubis, sacrum, and coccyx.
• Most trauma to the pelvis and hips can be evaluated with an AP projection of the pelvis and hips. Other injuries require special projections such as anterior and posterior obliques views of the pelvis, frog-lateral view of the hip and groin-lateral view.
• CT of the pelvis is the technique of choice for evaluating complex fracture patterns, degree of displacement and soft tissue injury.
• Symptoms from fractures of the hip, acetabulum and pelvis may be quite similar, thus, a full AP pelvis radiograph including the hip must be obtained if any of the above fractures are expected.
• The femurs should be internally rotated when obtaining an AP pelvis film so that the femoral necks can be appropriately assessed for fractures.

GENERAL CONSIDERATION FOR PELVIS AND HIP

• The pelvis and hips constitute one of the most diagnostically challenging areas of the body for two main reasons. First, it is the single area of the body where obtaining a lateral projection provides little additional information. Second, soft tissue injuries are difficult to assess with radiographs of the pelvis, but have greater clinical significance than in other areas of the body.
• Severe pelvic trauma is associated with hemorrhage in approximately 60% of cases. Hemorrhage is a principle factor leading to death in this patient population.
• Systematically examine all bony structures of the pelvis and femurs for symmetry, cortical breaks and joint spaces (sacroiliac, hip and symphysis pubis joints). Also carefully examine the common injury regions such as the femoral neck, iliac spine, acetabulum, inferior ramus of the ischium and superior pubic ramus.
• Avulsion injuries are common and can be easily missed. Examine the frequent sites of avulsion, which are the anterior superior iliac spine, anterior inferior iliac spine and ischial tuberosity.
• Remember that the pelvis is a ring and it is commonly broken in two or more places. The pelvic ring must remain intact for the fracture(s) to be considered stable. If the ring is compromised, it is an unstable pelvic fracture.
• Significant pelvic ring disruption (PRD) leads to rupture of the bladder or urethral injury in approximately 20% of cases. Evaluation of the urethra with retrograde uretrogram should be performed in all male patients with PRD prior to Foley catheter placement.

CALCANEAL FRACTURE

Calcaneal Fracture

• Also known as a "lover's fracture," fractures of the calcaneus are usually the result of a fall from height.
• A Boehler's angle less than 20 degrees is a characteristic sign of calcaneal fracture. However, it is important to realize that compression fracture is not excluded by a normal Boehler's angle.
• In 10% of cases, calcaneal fractures occur bilaterally.
• When evaluating a calcaneal fracture, it is important to determine whether the fracture line involves the subtalar joint. CT is usually essential in performing this evaluation.
• Calcaneal fractures can often be associated with spinal compression fractures and fractures of the femoral necks and tibial plateaus. For this reason, films of the thoracic and lumbar spine, tibial plateaus and femoral necks may be required for the patient with a calcaneal fracture in order to exclude other fractures.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In addition to the anterior and posterior calcaneal fractures shown in the images above, compression and stress fractures of the calcaneus are also common. Look at the two images below showing compression fractures of the calcaneus.