[Fracture lines of the foot]

In follow-up examinations of 112 patients who had been diagnosed as having a sprained foot, bony lesions, confirmed by X-ray films, were found in 96 (85.7%) patients. Up to this time the fractures had not been found in 58 of them. The fractures were found to be distributed in a point-specific location, i.e., a precisely defined anatomical area in 43 cases (44.8%) and a linear presentation in 53 (55.2%). This linear grouping of bony injuries is seen to develop along the path of joints, bones and ligamental insertions that anatomically follow one another in a functional manner. The line-like pattern to these presentation permitted us to develop 3 line sets that could be attributed to specific mechanisms of injury. The lateral line (56.6%) specially follows a supination sprain to the foot. The medial line (20.8%) is seen to follow injuries that involved a blow along the longitudinal axis. The transverse line (22.6%) follows trauma involving the Chopart joint. Six diagrams are presented to illustrate the mechanisms of foot trauma, with their vectors of force and the corresponding injuries that may result. Radiological examples of several clinical cases are given to demonstrate these three fracture lines.