Greyson Hainer was the starting quarterback at Elizabethtown High School. In the first game of the 2022 football season, the 17-year-old junior twisted his ankle while trying to break a tackle and heard a pop in his foot.
“My foot was instantly swollen,” he said. “I ended up not being able to walk the rest of the night. I woke up the next day [and my foot] was big and purple.”
After a week, Hainer realized the injury may be worse than he thought. The concern led him to Victor Anciano, M.D., an orthopedic foot and ankle surgeon with UofL Physicians – Orthopedics.
Dr. Anciano revealed that Hainer had suffered a Lisfranc injury, which meant the ligaments in his ankle had been torn.
The Lisfranc is located right in the center of the arch of your foot. When that part of the body is injured, it can cause an immense amount of pain and can limit daily activities. The injury has even been career ending for several professional athletes.
Dr. Anciano knew the detrimental impact this had on Hainer’s physical and mental health, and he was determined to guide Hainer back to a full recovery.
“Sports means a lot to college athletes and high school athletes,” Dr. Anciano said. “Having those first few weeks sitting on the sidelines, you feel like the world is moving without you. That’s not just tough on your foot, that’s tough on your soul.”
Hainer’s recovery would require surgery, which consisted of having two screws placed in his foot to restore the anatomy in his joints. Patients who need this type of surgery usually wait several months, but Dr. Anciano was able to perform Hainer’s surgery within a month of his injury.
Although Hainer’s spirits felt crushed by his initial circumstances, he was driven to get back on his feet, and worked above and beyond in his recovery treatment to get back out on the field.
After almost six months, Hainer was cleared to play sports again by Dr. Anciano.
“When he said that, I almost immediately went back to practice and just started going,” Hainer said. “It was a good feeling to be back out there.”
Dr. Anciano praised Hainer’s persistent motivation to get back on his feet to lead himself to a full recovery.
“I am very, very proud,” Dr. Anciano said. “[Our] job is to put things together and it’s his job to heal it. It does take time and a lot of tremendous effort in rehab.”
Hainer knew he just wasn’t ready to leave the game of football. His unwavering spirit helped keep the end goal in mind for his recovery.
“Sports is a big part of my life,” Hainer said. “It’s a way of expressing myself and makes me competitive.”
Dr. Anciano states while the recovery process can take a mental and emotional toll on patients, his passion for his job lies in telling them when they are able to return to their normal lives.
“It feels great,” he said. “It’s one of the things we love the most, telling [patients], ‘Come back whenever, come back when you need us.’ It’s really what we do this for, that last appointment.”
Now fully recovered, Hainer is feeling positive and hopeful in starting the new football season as the starting quarterback, and he is excited to close out his senior year with his good friends. He said he feels nothing but gratitude for Dr. Anciano and his team at UofL Health.
“It’s just a blessing,” Hainer said. “Their team is the best I could ask for. I don’t think any other team could have done it like that. They got me to where I am now.”
UofL Physicians – Orthopedics offers specialized expertise in foot and ankle care. Our team of fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeons can provide the best treatment options for minor conditions, as well as the most complex injuries and deformities. Call 502-363-0588 for more information or to make an appointment.
