Charcot foot

Charcot foot is a rare and disabling disorder. It is a result of nerve damage to the feet. A common cause is peripheral neuropathy . Diabetes is the most common cause of this type of nerve damage. This damage is more common in people with type 1 diabetes. When blood sugar levels are high over a long time, both nerve…

Early foot symptoms may include: Mild pain and discomfort Redness Swelling Warmth in the affected foot (noticeably warmer than the other foot) At later stages, bones in the foot break and move out of place, causing the foot or ankle to become deformed. A classic sign of Charcot is rocker-bottom foot. This occurs when…

Charcot foot is not always easy to diagnose early on. It can be mistaken for sprains, bone infection, arthritis or joint swelling. Your health care provider will take your medical history and examine your foot and ankle. Blood tests and other lab work may be done to help rule out other causes. Your provider may check…

The goal of treatment is to stop bone loss, allow bones to heal, and prevent bones from moving out of place (deformity). Immobilization -- Your provider will have you wear a total contact cast. This will help limit movement of your foot and ankle. You will likely be asked to keep your weight off your foot entirely, so…

The prognosis depends on the severity of foot deformity and how well you heal without infection. Many people do well with braces, activity changes, and ongoing monitoring.

Severe deformity of the foot increases the risk of foot ulcers. If ulcers or the underlying bone becomes infected and hard to treat, it may require amputation .

Contact your provider if you have diabetes and your foot is warm, red, or swollen.

Healthy habits can help prevent or delay Charcot foot: Keep good control of your blood glucose levels to help prevent or delay Charcot foot. But it can still occur, even in people with good diabetes control. Take care of your feet . Check them every day. See your foot doctor regularly. Check your feet regularly to…

Baxi O, Yeranosian M, Lin A, Munoz M, Lin S. Orthotic management of neuropathic and dysvascular feet. In: Webster JB, Murphy DP, eds. Atlas of Orthoses and Assistive Devices. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 26. Brownlee M, Aiello LP, Sun JK, et al. Complications of diabetes mellitus. In: Melmed S, Auchus…