Medial column instability in the Lisfranc's fracture dislocation injury.

The authors present a descriptive report on medial column instability with Lisfranc's fracture dislocation injuries. Subtleties of recognizing and diagnosing this injury are emphasized within a literature review. Eleven cases of tarsometatarsal injuries were reviewed over an 18-month period. Eight cases involved acute injuries, while three cases presented as delayed or misdiagnosed injuries. Due to the instability of the medial column, failure in reduction methods for this injury consistently occurred. With proper sequential placement of Kirschner wires, reduction failure is minimized. A fixation method for medial column Lisfranc's injuries with Kirschner wire placement is described.