American Podiatric Medical Licensing Examination (APMLE) Part 3 Practice Test 2026 - Free APMLE Part 3 Practice Questions and Study Guide

In open Lisfranc injuries with soft tissue damage, preventing infection and protecting the soft tissue envelope is the priority. The typical initial approach is to perform prompt irrigation and surgical debridement to remove contaminated and nonviable tissue, begin broad-spectrum IV antibiotics to cover common pathogens, and temporize fixation until the soft tissue condition improves. Delaying definitive fixation allows the swollen, potentially compromised skin to recover, reducing the risk of wound complications and hardware infection. Once the soft tissues are in better condition, definitive stabilization of the midfoot can be performed.