The Lisfranc ligament is one of several ligaments which connects the

medial cuneiform bone There are three cuneiform ("wedge-shaped") bones in the human foot: * the first or medial cuneiform * the second or intermediate cuneiform, also known as the middle cuneiform * the third or lateral cuneiform They are located between the navic ...

to the second

metatarsal The metatarsal bones, or metatarsus, are a group of five long bones in the foot, located between the tarsal bones of the hind- and mid-foot and the phalanges of the toes. Lacking individual names, the metatarsal bones are numbered from the me ...

. Sometimes, the term ''Lisfranc ligament'' refers specifically to the ligament that connects the superior, lateral surface of the medial cuneiform to the superior, medial surface of the base of the second metatarsal.

Structure

The Lisfranc ligament connects the

to the second

. It is a complex of 3 ligaments: the dorsal Lisfranc ligament, the interosseous Lisfranc ligament, and the plantar Lisfranc ligament.

Variation

In 20% of people, there are two bands of each component of the ligament, usually of the dorsal Lisfranc ligament or the plantar Lisfranc ligament.

Function

The Lisfranc ligament maintains proper alignment between the

metatarsal bones The metatarsal bones, or metatarsus, are a group of five long bones in the foot, located between the tarsal bones of the hind- and mid-foot and the phalanges of the toes. Lacking individual names, the metatarsal bones are numbered from the me ...

and the

tarsal bones In the human body, the tarsus is a cluster of seven articulating bones in each foot situated between the lower end of the tibia and the fibula of the lower leg and the metatarsus. It is made up of the midfoot ( cuboid, medial, intermediate, and ...

. It acts as a shock absorber during the weight bearing phase of the

bipedal gait cycle A (bipedal) gait cycle is the time period or sequence of events or movements during locomotion in which one foot contacts the ground to when that same foot again contacts the ground, and involves propulsion of the centre of gravity In physics, ...

. It also compensates for the lack of an intermetatarsal ligament between the

first metatarsal bone The first metatarsal bone is the bone in the foot just behind the big toe. The first metatarsal bone is the shortest of the metatarsal bones and by far the thickest and strongest of them. Like the four other metatarsals, it can be divided into ...

and the

second metatarsal bone The second metatarsal bone is a long bone in the foot. It is the longest of the metatarsal bones, being prolonged backward and held firmly into the recess formed by the three cuneiform bones. The second metatarsal forms joints with the second pr ...

Clinical significance

The Lisfranc ligament is injured or disrupted in the

Lisfranc fracture A Lisfranc injury, also known as Lisfranc fracture, is an injury of the foot in which one or more of the metatarsal bones are displaced from the tarsus. The injury is named after Jacques Lisfranc de St. Martin, a French surgeon and gynecologi ...

. Trauma to the midfoot is caused by direct and indirect impact forces. Direct force involves an object landing on the surface on the foot. Indirect force involves twisting of the foot, usually an impact to the heel while the foot is pointed down toward the ground. A mild form of this injury results in a widening of the gap between the first and second metatarsals. An extreme form of the a Lisfranc fracture causes a complete dislocation of the metatarsals from the tarsal bones. When the alignment of the midfoot is affected joint cartilage is quickly damaged.

History

Eponym

The ligament and the fracture are named after the Napoleonic army surgeon, Jacques Lisfranc de St. Martin.

References

External links

orthoinfo.aaos.org
Ligaments {{ligament-stub