Fourteen years follow up after Lisfranc fracture-dislocation: functional and radiological results

Abstract

Injuries to the Lisfranc joint have a high potential for chronic disability. Posttraumatic arthritis remains the most common complication but not all patients who develop degenerative radiographic changes are symptomatic. A cohort of 32 patients with a Lisfranc fracture dislocation was reviewed. Initial reduction and secondary displacement were measured by the Myerson scale. Radiographic evidence of osteoarthritis (OA) was also investigated. Long-term radiographical data were classified as good, fair or poor results. Functional outcome was measured using several different scales. Mean follow up was 14 years. Seventeen patients with anatomic close reduction but instability were treated with closed reduction and K-wire fixation followed by cast immobilisation. Eight patients with stable anatomic close reduction were treated with closed reduction and cast. Seven patients with unacceptable closed reduction were treated with open reduction and K-wire stabilisation. The analysis of radiological long-term data showed 15 patients with good results, 8 with fair results and 9 with poor results. Final mean AOFAS score was 91.7/100. There was no statistically significant difference between overall PFS scores and different type of treatment, Hardcastle long-term radiological scores or Hardcastle type of fracture (p >0.05).Overall, there was a poor association between the extent of radiological arthritis and clinical scores. We advocate that for the evaluation of long-term outcome of these injuries functional parameters should be the focus of assessment, instead of radiological changes.