Painful foot or ankle? Don't overlook these 5 injuries
A missed diagnosis of one of these conditions risks delay in referral for orthopedic evaluation and surgical management—possibly leading to complications.
PRACTICE RECOMMENDATIONS
› Suspect higher-grade syndesmotic disruption (which typically requires surgical intervention) in patients whose ankle pain persists after 3 weeks of immobilization or who have a tibial or fibular diastasis on a plain film. C
› Order weight-bearing x-rays to make an accurate diagnosis of Lisfranc injury. Refer for potential surgical intervention if diastasis is evident at the base between the first and second metatarsals. C
› Distinguish between proximal diaphysial (Jones) fracture of the fifth metatarsal, diaphysial stress fracture, and avulsion fracture—essential because avulsion fracture can be treated nonoperatively but the other 2 require surgical intervention. C
Strength of recommendation (SOR)
A Good-quality patient-oriented evidence
B Inconsistent or limited-quality patient-oriented evidence
C Consensus, usual practice, opinion, disease-oriented evidence, case series
Distance > 2 mm between the base of the first and second metatarsals (FIGURE 4) or an avulsion fracture at the medial base of the second metatarsal or distal lateral corner of the medial cuneiform (the “fleck sign”) supports a disturbance of the Lisfranc joint complex.24 Imaging of the contralateral foot might highlight the injury in subtle cases, followed by CT when diagnostic uncertainty persists.24,25
Management of Lisfranc injury depends on the stability of the joint complex. Stable injury without diastasis can be managed conservatively with immobilization in a short walker boot and limited weight-bearing for 2 weeks, followed by weight-bearing as tolerated in the boot if tenderness has improved.24 After 6 to 8 weeks, if the patient is pain-free with abduction stress, weight-bearing without the boot (but with a rigid-sole shoe) is permissible for an additional 6 months. Sport-specific rehabilitation for an athlete can begin once the patient can walk down multiple flights of stairs without pain.24
Orthopedic referral for surgical evaluation is recommended for all patients who have any radiographic evidence of dynamic instability, indicated by the fleck sign; displacement; or obvious diastasis between the metatarsals on imaging. A delay of 1 to 2 weeks from injury to fixation has not been associated with a negative outcome; delay as long as 6 weeks is permissible in some cases. Longer delay in surgical treatment (≥ 6 months) can be associated with posttraumatic arthritis and the need for Lisfranc fusion.24-26
Proximal fifth-metatarsal fractures
These common fractures are classified in 3 broad categories: tuberosity avulsion fracture, proximal diaphyseal (Jones) fracture, and stress fractures of the diaphysis (immediately distal to the site of the Jones fracture zone).27-29 Differentiating an acute Jones fracture and other fracture types is clinically important because the watershed area at the metaphysis–diaphysis junction results in a higher risk of delayed union and nonunion of Jones fractures, compared to other fractures in this region (FIGURE 5).28,29
Presentation. Proximal fifth-metatarsal fractures generally present with lateral foot pain and tenderness at the base of the fifth metatarsal, made worse by inversion of the foot, and inability to bear weight on the lateral aspect of the foot. Acute pain can follow a more insidious course of lateral foot pain in stress fracture.
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