New Jersy Nets Center Has Foot Surgery

Brooks Lopez, the starting center for the New Jersey Nets, broke a bone in his foot and is having surgery to repair it today. He is expected to be out six weeks. The bone he broke is the fifth metatarsal and is located on the outside of the foot.

This is probably one of the most common foot fractures. It usually occurs when your foot rolls over. There is a tendon, called the peroneal brevis tendon that is under tension when you twist your ankle. This causes the tendon to pull on the bone and break a piece off. Sometimes, the piece is broken off in such a way that it needs to be put back surgically. Other times, the bone breaks but is not displaced, meaning it is a stable fracture and can be healed just by applying a cast.

There are three types of fractures in this location. The base of the fifth metatarsal fracture is called an avulsion fracture. This is because the tendon yanks or avulses the bone. This fracture is usally stable enough to be treated conservatively without surgery.

A second type is a stress fracture, which is not a through and through break and not displaced. They occur usually in young athletes that put a lot of strain on the bone, thus stressing the area.

The Jones fracture is located above the base (see above diagram) and is associated with poor healing. This fracture usually requires surgery and then non-weight bearing in a cast for six weeks. Surgery consists of putting in a screw to put the fracture back. We use intra-operative x-rays to make sure the screw and bone is in proper placement. The Jones fracture is in the area of good blood supply to this bone, thus, the nutrition to the bone is disrupted in this instance. This is the reason for the poor healing, unless it is surgically corrected.

However, in basketball players, or any athlete that is required to jump or pound on their foot for their sport, the best option is to surgically repair it just by using a screw. It takes about 6 weeks for the bone to heal and afterwards, Lopez will need to get back into playing shape. So, don’t expect him to be playing for about two months which is now almost the whole season, due to the shortened schedule.

Matt Schaub, quarterback for the Houston Texans, has suffered a Lisfranc injury and is facing the possibility of being out for the rest of the season. A Lisfranc injury…like a hot dog? No, he didn’t suffer from hot dog poisoning, although you never really know what’s in those things. The name actually stems from the French doctor who first described this injury. Schaub suffered a painful fracture of his midfoot that could cause him to sit sidelined for the rest of the season.

A Lisfranc injury can come in different forms or be a mix of complex injuries in the foot. A Lisfranc injury could be a sprain, fracture or dislocation of the area in the middle of the foot including bones and ligaments. The Lisfranc joint is responsible for connecting the metatarsal bones and the tarsal bones.

This joint helps to support the foot by transferring the weight of a step from the heel to the padded forefoot. Although this condition is extremely rare, once you have a Lisfranc injury the recovery can be quite a battle. To determine the difference between a Lisfranc injury and a sprain check the following symptoms. Usually the top of the foot will be swollen and painful, and there could be noticeable bruising. Depending on the severity of the injury, the foot may not be able to handle any weight or pressure.

The treatment for a Lisfranc injury can include the following. First, it is recommended to try the RICE technique (rest, ice, compression, and elevation) to reduce swelling and bruising. If the pain persists you will need to see a podiatrist, who is specially trained to handle serious foot injuries. The doctor will need to take X-rays and possibly get an MRI of the foot to determine the status of the bones and make sure none are broken. In addition, a Lisfranc dislocation, where the joints are not aligned, has to be assessed. Then a person will be wearing a cast, non weight bearing for up to a few months. In the worst case scenarios the injury could require surgery for proper healing.

Although the injury is rare, once you have experienced a Lisfranc injury, your foot may be susceptible for further damage. For example, mobility would be a great concern, especially for an athlete. In addition, arthritis is common in those who have had this injury which could lead to less mobility. Aches, pains, and stiffness are also amongst the top complaints of Lisfranc injury sufferers.

The future of Matt Schaub’s season and career are yet to be determined. Sources connected with the athlete are trying to stay positive as the Texan’s quarterback travels from state to state gathering specialist’s opinions on the damage. Although Schaub is concerned to help his team and get back in the game, not treating the condition properly could lead to more serious problems down the road.