Furkan Korkmaz injury complicates Philadelphia 76ers off-season
By Bret Stuter
Lisfranc injury
The Lisfranc injury is not a common foot injury. But with the diagnosis to Furkan Korkmaz, what are we looking at? While not an immediate treatment, the injury is often a candidate for surgery. A Lisfranc injury is an injury to the bone, connective tissue, or both of the middle foot.
The healing time of a Lisfranc injury is rather lengthy. That is due to the complex nature of the injury. Ligaments, bones, tendons and cartilage can all contribute to the injury, and each must be repaired separately but in concert with repairs to all other tissue at the injury site.
If no surgery is required, the patient must follow the RICE regiment (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) while connective tissue in the foot heals. Mobility is only possible after a weight-bearing removable cast boot is fitted to the injured foot. There can be no weight on the foot for up to six weeks time. Following this, rehab for several months are required to build strength and flexibility.
Operation Lisfranc
If surgery is warranted, the post surgery recovery is intense. Repairs to the injury site may require:
removal of bone chips (fractures)
repair ligament tears (sprains)
restore bones to original position (dislocation)
Rehabilitation from surgery requires even more time. Up to eight weeks of the weight-bearing removable cast boot, followed by a month or more of limited weight bearing walking boot. Following this, rehabilitation begins, with a focus on maintaining arch support with appropriate insoles, and a gradual elevation of exercises to restore strength and flexibility to the injury site.
With the season already nearing the end of December, the remainder of the season for Furkan Kormaz is likely in question now. But he is a seldom used player. So what? Well, there are three major complications to the teams upcoming off-season moves as a result: