To investigate the mid-term clinical outcomes of selective column arthrodesis based on the three-column theory in the treatment of malunion of Lisfranc injury.

The 28 patients with malunion of Lisfranc injury were analyzed retrospectively who had been treated by selective column arthrodesis at Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine from January 2011 to January 2020.They were 18 males and 10 females, with an average age of 37.2 years(from 18 to 65 years). Twelve left and 16 right sides were affected. According to Myerson's three-column classification, one case was medial column injury (type A), 4 ones middle column injury (type B), 7 ones medial plus middle columns injury and 16 ones three-column injury. Medial column arthrodesis was conducted in 7, middle column arthrodesis in 4 and medial plus middle columns arthrodesis in 17. The American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) midfoot score and visual analogue scale (VAS) were compared between preoperation and the last follow-up to evaluate the improvements in foot function and pain. The operation-related complications were recorded.

All patients were followed up for an average of 35.6 months (from 18 to 60 months). The AOFAS midfoot score increased from 43.1±4.1 at pre-operation to 84.1± 7.4 at the last follow-up and the VAS score decreased from 5.7±1.3 at pre-operation to 2.0±0.9 at the last follow-up (both P<0.001). The wounds healed in 28 patients, 3 of whom had postoperative wound exudation but responded to dressing change. There were no such complications as injury to the deep peroneal nerve or deep venous thrombosis. The internal fixation was removed in 5 patients at about one year after arthrodesis.

Selective column arthrodesis based on the three-column theory can result in satisfactory med-term clinical outcomes in the treatment of malunion of Lisfranc injury.

Tarsal Joints; Foot deformities; Arthrodesis; Lisfranc injury; Malunion; Three column classification theory