Virginia Via Research Day Book 2026

Medical Student Research Case Reports

19 FINDINGS, OUTCOMES, AND MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES OF NON-OPERATIVE LISFRANC INJURIES IN ELITE COLLEGIATE WRESTLERS: A CASE SERIES

Garrett Kuchan, OMS-I; Varun Patel, OMS-II, MS; Mark Rogers, DO, CAQSM, FAAFP, FAOASM Corresponding author: vpatel03@vt.vcom.edu, gkuchan@vt.vcom.edu

VCOM-Virginia, Blacksburg, VA

recurrence of this specific injury pattern warrants further investigation into possible associations with shared training equipment, competition surfaces, or newer wrestling techniques that increase torsional stress. Diagnosis: The final diagnosis for these three cases were stable, low-to-moderate grade Lisfranc ligament sprain/partial tear without joint malalignment over a 40 day period.

(2-3 weeks) followed by a carbon fiber shoe insert and structured rehabilitation. All athletes experienced improved pain at follow-up and returned to wrestling, demonstrating that Lisfranc injuries without dislocation can be managed conservatively in this population. The average competitive Return to Play (RTP) was 35.3 days indicating need for further evaluation. Comments: The average competitive RTP among these three athletes (35.3 days) was shorter than previously reported non-operative minimally-displaced injuries in athletes and military personnel (58 to 64 days)1,2. In this case report, the athletes’ win percentage before injury was recorded at 93.6%, which contrasts a win percentage of 80.6% after returning to sport. This aligns with other medical RTP data showing a decrease in peak performance following return from a Lisfranc injury3,4. Despite the rarity of Lisfranc injuries in wrestling, all three athletes presented with comparable midfoot ligament trauma with similar mechanisms. The

Context: Lisfranc complex injuries are a small but increasing proportion of sports-related foot trauma, often resulting from low-energy rotational or axial forces on a fixed foot, though they have been a rare occurrence within the sport of wrestling. This case series explores three stable, low-grade Lisfranc sprains in elite collegiate wrestlers over a 40-day period, highlighting their diagnostic findings, non-operative outcomes, and efficient management strategies. Report of Cases: Three lightweight collegiate wrestlers sustained Lisfranc joint injuries during wrestling activities, one in practice and two during competition, both of whom completed their competitive matches. All three athletes were diagnosed based on a combination of a positive Lisfranc Squeeze test (2/3), negative X-rays for acute fracture, and MRI findings indicating ligament sprain/partial tear and muscle edema without joint malalignment. All cases were treated successfully nonoperatively with initial immobilization

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56 Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM)