What was it like having your screws removed post Lisfranc surgery?
Was it inpatient or outpatient?
Where you sedated?
How many screws?
How long where they in?
Did it cause for more time NWB?
Was it painful after?
Did they break in your foot or start to back out and what was that like?
Did you feel it when they broke?
My OS said if I would like to take my screws out "I will just numb up your foot and make a small incision and put it out with a screwdriver. I can only remove the heads of the screws because the part that goes through bone has to stay in"
I was shocked to hear it sound so barbarick of a procedure and wondering if all of you had the same experience?
I also want to know because my OS does not believe in removing the screws so maybe he was trying to scare me so I keep them in.
BTW I still can't walk or even stand on my foot. I am 12 weeks post surgery and in a walking boot. I tried once to step on it and my foot just fell out from under me. My ankle is really weak.
How long after you were giving clearance to walk did you actually put weight on the foot and take a step?
What was it like having your screws removed post Lisfranc surgery?
Was it inpatient or outpatient? My surgery was outpatient
Where you sedated? Yes, general anesthesia
How many screws? 2, I had a gap of of over 5.75mm. I hear that is HUGE
How long where they in? My case is a little different; as it was 8 months before the dislocation was discovered. My screws will be in at least 20 weeks.
Did it cause for more time NWB? I began weight-bearing (in a boot) at week 8. Well, actually, I attempted weight-bearing at week 8. It took me almost two weeks to wean off crutches. In fact; I went from weight-0bearing with crutches to a cane (BIG HELP) to weight-bearing without assistance in about 2 1/2 weeks.
Was it painful after? Yes, but not horrible. I found that 2 Advil made me pain-free. However, I find that pain is an excellent boundary of what one should (or should not) be doing.
Did they break in your foot or start to back out and what was that like? My understanding is if they break in your foot, then they stay forever. I go in for attempted removal in the first week of December or last week of November. He will back the screws out and see if they worked. If there is still gapping, but slight - he will put the screws back in for another 4-6 weeks. If there is gapping as if no attempt to reattach was made, he will fuse the joint.
Did you feel it when they broke? N/A - but I bet one would feel it......
My OS said if I would like to take my screws out "I will just numb up your foot and make a small incision and put it out with a screwdriver. I can only remove the heads of the screws because the part that goes through bone has to stay in" I am not sure that is true. If you think about it, how is the head of the screw separated from the body of the screw? Maybe there is more than one type of screw used.
I was shocked to hear it sound so barbarick of a procedure and wondering if all of you had the same experience?
I also want to know because my OS does not believe in removing the screws so maybe he was trying to scare me so I keep them in. Gosh, I would hope not. That would be very manipulative.
BTW I still can't walk or even stand on my foot. I am 12 weeks post surgery and in a walking boot. I tried once to step on it and my foot just fell out from under me. My ankle is really weak. Try walking with the crutches. Little bit of weight with each step. Build up. That worked great for me and I graduated to a cane in about 5 days. Took about 7-10 days to be totally off the cane (no cane for 2 days now! Yay me!!)
How long after you were giving clearance to walk did you actually put weight on the foot and take a step?
I am NOT allowed to put any weight on that foot without the boot until about 4 weeks after he removes the screws.
In the mean-time for your weak foot; try simple exercises like lifting your foot up and relaxing it. You will find that the muscles have excellent memory and you will bounce back quickly. Don't go crazy with those exercises, just work it a little. It goes a long way to strengthening the ankle to allow you to walk again.
Thank you Albir I know that was a lot of questions to answer! How wonderful it must feel for you to be walking again with no devices!
I am so fustrated that I don't seem any closer to walking even though my OS said it is ok to begin some weight baring.At this point I assume it's all in my mind! I have been holding my injured foot up for for months on cruthces so to put it down and put weight on it I just can't.
I think I need help from a PT to get walking.
Good luck to you and hopefully you will not need the fusion!
I just thought of this, but I should have kind of given a background to this injury, and I know that everyone has their own weird Lisfranc story:
At the beginning of December of last year (yes, you read that right), I tripped over a stray cat in a parking lot while wearing high heel clogs. I stopped to pet the cat in question, then walked away and didn't give him another thought. I had SO much on my mind; Christmas shopping, etc. So, I failed to notice that the cat followed me to my truck and under my truck. I stepped on him, my foot slid part way out of the shoe and "pop" it went. Initial x-ray in the ER was negative but the ER doc felt certain that I had sustained this injury. I went to an OS, who confirmed a Lisfranc sprain and did an MRI to rule out dislocation. He casted my foot and scheduled my MRI for 4 days later.
My foot swelled up TERRIBLE!!! I had the MRI, it showed a bunch of little stuff: broken tarsals, bruised middle and medial cuneiform, and suspect full Lisfranc tear without dislocation.
I did the crutches and cast for 8 weeks, then a weight-bearing x-ray; which was read as negative. So I got the boot for 4 weeks, then he cleared me to walk without the boot in March, and cleared me to resume my running and training for my 7th half-marathon. I still had pain, and he told me to expect that due to the "bad injury". He told me to return in 2 months.
I went back two months later (June) and told him I still had a LOT of pain, but only after I stopped running. And I still couldn't walk barefoot. I asked if it was possible that I dislocated the ligament from running and he said absolutely not. I told him I thought there was as possibility that I was a "sissy". He disagreed strongly. He told me that marathon runners are lot of things, but not sissies. But, to come back in two weeks for a weight-bearing x-ray after my long (6 miles) run.
That x-ray showed a 4.5mm dislocation. He told me that when he saw my x-ray that he got chest pain. All he could think of was all those miles I was running every week. He told me the good news: I'm not a sissy. The bad news: I needed to see a specialist. He sent me to the foot/ankle surgeon for the Miami Dolphins and Florida Panthers (hockey). He specialized in this repair (I guess it is becoming more common in NFL players). The second OS told me that the MRI "suspicious for full thickness tear" is the same as saying it was a full thickness tear. He said ligaments are bone-like in density and there is no "gray area" with a tear. It's torn or it's not. He said I should have gone to the OR that night.
So, I got it fixed up. The other OS was very frank with me about what my expectations should be. My running career is OVER. But, he was confident that he could fix this and that I could get a good result. But, he also told me that this injury carries a high percentage of disabilities in patients who present for treatment after so long (eight months).
So, I have reconciled in my mind that I am never going to run again, and especially not the distances I was accustomed to. But, right now, I am praying that this surgery worked. I promised my daughter that I would hike the Appalachian Trail with her after she graduated high school (in 7 years)
Needless to say, my attitude towards recovery this time has been quite negative. I was ****ed off that the other doctor missed the dislocation and I wasted those months being non-productive; only to do it again OVER THE SUMMER. Canceled vacation and my birthday in a cast on crutches only added to the despair.
So, I am VERY glad to be off the crutches and I just finished my second day without a cane.!
I have found that there is pain with walking, but every day it hurts a little less (if that makes sense). Also, sometimes, I will catch it just right (or wrong) and it will hurt to walk on for about 30 minutes. Then it subsides.
Good luck to you. You didn't say how old you are, but I will be 40 next year. I am thinking that my age is starting to play a role in this healing process. Aint a spring chicken anymore! I'm in great shape, but that's no guarantee.
Oh yes, wear a CLOSED TOE higher heel on your other foot when walking with the boot. It "balances" you out and it will save your other knee and hip. I have LOTS of experience with that.....
Wow! Tripped over a cat...I'm so sorry. I am 31, and I fell over while lifting my son. He and I landed on my foot. I didn't hear a pop or feel any pain until I tried to stand up to walk and felt severe pain. That happened this past May 18th.
I also was told to try a boot for 6 weeks (NWB) and then try walking. I tried for 3 weeks and knew it was not getting better so I went to an OS.
I had WB XRAY which showed Lisfranc dislocation fracture to 1st and 2nd metas and cuireform (spelling?) bone and had 3 titanium screws placed to fix on June 19th.
I am now in a walking boot 12 weeks post op. I spent all summer in a cast and I want to walk so bad!
I have 3 kids 12,5, and 1 and I miss taking them for walks and playing at the park.
Never let anyone tell you your running days are over. They maybe on hold but I believe you will run again. Try to read the thread posted on mini-tightrope which looks like a new and upcoming treatment for this injury especially good for athletes.
My problem is I have always loved walking barefoot and I have to force myself to keep the boot on. I don't see how I will get walking without OT.
I think it's in my mind but I am scared to put that foot down and shift weight on it. We will see what the next OS visit in 3 weeks holds for me.
Removing screws post Lisfranc 
Re: Removing screws post Lisfranc 
Linear Mode
