The Lisfranc Joint: Multimodality Imaging to Avoid Missteps in the Diagnosis of Acute Injuries

Abstract

Named after Jacques Lisfranc de St. Martin (1790–1847), a French surgeon in Napoleon's army who described amputations through the tarsometatarsal joint, the Lisfranc joint is the junction between the midfoot and the forefoot and represents a complex articulation composed of nine bones: the five metatarsal bases, the three cuneiforms, and the cuboid. The stability of the Lisfranc joint depends largely on its bony architecture and ligamentous integrity, with additional support provided by the peroneus longus, anterior tibialis, and posterior tibialis tendons; the long plantar ligament; the plantar fascia; and the intrinsic muscles of the foot.1