CHARCOT FOOT

  the joints in the feet and is most commonly associated with vascular complications and nerve damage (neuropathy). Neuropathy is very common among diabetics, making Charcot foot a potential problem for those battling diabetes. Charcot foot weakens the bones, making them susceptible to fractures. As the condition progresses, the joints collapse and the foot begins to shape itself abnormally. Because of the neuropathy, Charcot foot causes a decrease in the foot’s sensitivity to stimuli and interferes with the muscular balance that controls the foot’s movements. Often there is no pain, so the person continues walking on the foot—which makes the problem worse.

Charcot foot that is left untreated progressively damages the ligaments, cartilage, and bones, and makes the joints in the feet susceptible to progressive injury. Charcot foot most commonly affects the metatarsal, tarsometatarsal, and midtarsal joints. All these are located in the forefoot and midfoot. Charcot foot is a very serious condition that can lead to foot deformities, disability, or even amputation.

Charcot foot usually affects only one foot, but 20 percent of patients develop it in both feet. According to the American Diabetes Association, onset of the condition generally occurs after the age of 50, among patients who have been living with diabetes for fifteen years or more.

Charcot Foot Symptoms
Charcot foot is a progressive condition that develops over weeks or months—much faster than peripheral neuropathy, which typically develops over decades. Sometimes a minor trauma may cause the symptoms of Charcot foot to appear. Symptoms of Charcot foot may include the following:

1. Redness
2. Swelling
3. Pain or soreness
4. Warmth within the foot
5. Strong pedal pulse
6. Instability in the joints
7. Loss of sensation in the foot
8. Discoloration of the joint
9. Subluxation (misalignment of the bones that form a joint)
10. Potential nerve damage
11. Deformity of the foot (which can be severe)

Diagnosing Charcot Foot

In order to properly treat Charcot foot, you’ll need to have your symptoms checked out immediately. Catching this condition in its early stages is critical to successful treatment, so you should see a Foot and Ankle Surgeon at the first sign of symptoms. Diagnosis can sometimes be difficult because this condition can mimic other conditions like cellulitis or deep venous thrombosis, and because diagnosis of a Charcot fracture cannot be made definitively until bone changes occur. Therefore traditional methods for early detection (x-rays, MRIs, CT scans, etc) are sometimes not as useful as a nuclear bone scan. Fluid from joint for laboratory testing to check for fragments of bone and cartilage.
Charcot Foot Treatment.
Non-surgical treatment options include:

1. Immobilization
2. Custom shoes and bracing
3. Use of crutches, casts, wheelchair used to protect foot
4. Limiting activities that cause the condition

If your condition is severe, or if it has caused severe deformities, surgery may be needed… An ostectomy is the most common surgical procedure used to treat Charcot foot. This involves making an incision on the bottom of the foot to remove the abnormal bone growth and bone and cartilage fragments. After an ostectomy, a brace or cast is worn until the foot has completely healed.

Another surgical procedure is a realignment arthrodesis, either to the mid-foot or hind foot and ankle. During a mid-foot realignment arthrodesis, bony overgrowths are removed and collapsed arches are repaired. This is done by making an incision in the foot and inserting screws and plates to stabilize the joints and bones. Patients usually spend one night in the hospital for this procedure, after which they are required to wear a non-weight-bearing cast for three months, followed by a weight-bearing cast for an additional month. After that, orthotics are used for as long as your doctor thinks necessary. A hind-foot and ankle realignment arthrodesis is identical to the mid-foot procedure except for the recovery period. Non-weight-bearing casts are required for the first three months after the procedure, and a special brace is worn for an additional two to three months to protect the arch. Braces are custom-made to enable the patient to walk following the surgery. You should expect to be closely monitored after any of these surgeries to ensure that the problem does not recur. In most cases the patient may resume normal activities after treatment is administered.

Complications of Charcot Foot

1. Calluses
2. Foot ulcers, especially if the foot is deformed or if the condition is not caught in its early stages
3. Bony protrusions (these have potential to become infected if rubbed on the inside of the shoe for an extended period)
4. Osteomyelitis (bone infection)
5. Inflammation of the joint membranes
6. Blood vessel and/or nerve compression
7. Loss of sensation in the foot
8. Loss of function in the foot

Preventing Charcot Foot

1. Control your blood sugar levels in order to reduce the progression of nerve damage.
2. Get regular check ups with your doctor and podiatrist.
3. Check both feet daily for signs of Charcot foot or other related problems.
4. Avoid injury to the feet.