Charcot Foot
Diabetic foot problems like Charcot foot are not only painful; they are major health concerns and need to be overseen by a highly qualified physician. The foot and ankle specialists at Beacon Orthopaedics in Cincinnati have deep experience in treating Charcot foot and other foot conditions associated with diabetes.
Content List:
What is Charcot Foot?
Charcot foot, also known as diabetic foot, is a condition seen mostly in patients with diabetes mellitus. Diabetic nerve damage (neuropathy) is a common complication of diabetes, and it leads to nerve damage in the foot. Diabetes can also damage blood vessels in the feet, eventually causing bones and joints to disintegrate. When a diabetic person has neuropathy in his or her feet, he or she may not notice bone damage and other serious injuries, causing the injuries to advance without proper treatment. In Charcot foot patients, a combination of bone disintegration and foot trauma or injury causes the shape of the foot to become deformed.1
Symptoms of Charcot Foot
Symptoms of Charcot foot may include:
- Redness
- Swelling
- Pain or soreness
- Foot deformity
- Open wounds on the foot
What Causes Charcot Foot?
The exact cause of Charcot foot is unknown, though this condition is most prevalent in patients with peripheral neuropathy. In fact, 9% of diabetes patients with diabetic neuropathy have Charcot foot.2 The deformity associated with Charcot foot is commonly the result of an unrecognized injury, like a sprain or broken bone. When foot injuries like this go untreated, it can result in arch collapses (rocker-bottom foot deformity), curved toes, deformed ankles, infection, and foot sores.3
What are the Stages of Charcot Foot?
The severity of Charcot foot is classified by stages. The stages of Charcot foot are as follows:
- Clinical Stage: In this stage, the foot is warm to the touch, swollen, and red.
- Fragmentation Stage: Here, joint dislocation, fractures, instability, and foot deformities are noted.
- Coalescence Stage: In this stage of Charcot foot, bone debris is reabsorbed.
- Reparative Stage: Here, the treated foot is stable.4
Treatment of Charcot Foot
Non-Surgical Treatment of Charcot Foot
At Beacon Orthopaedics, we believe that non-invasive interventions should always be the first line of treatment for Charcot foot. Non-surgical treatment for Charcot foot may include:
- Immobilization
- Custom shoes
- Braces
- Activity modification
- Physical therapy
Charcot Foot Surgery
When a Charcot foot deformity is severe, surgery may be necessary. Surgery for Charcot foot depends on the location and severity of the deformity, and may involve Achilles tendon lengthening, stabilizing the bones and joints of the foot with plates and screws, removing a portion of bone, and fusing and repositioning the bones.5
Frequently Asked Questions About Plantar Fasciitis
How is Charcot foot diagnosed?
The first step in diagnosing Charcot foot is a visual and physical examination to identify symptoms like redness, swelling, and increased temperature. Imaging tests like X-rays, MRI, and bone scans may also be employed to identify foot deformities and injuries.
Can I prevent Charcot foot?
There are certain measures a person with diabetes can take to help prevent Charcot foot:
- Maintain healthy blood sugar levels
- Have regular foot and ankle examinations by an orthopedic surgeon
- Check feet daily for symptoms of Charcot foot
- Avoid foot injuries
Contact Beacon Orthopaedics
If you have diabetes mellitus and notice symptoms of Charcot foot such as swelling, redness, or an increase in temperature of the foot, you should have your foot promptly examined by an experienced orthopedic surgeon. To schedule a consultation with a foot and ankle specialist at Beacon Orthopaedics in Cincinnati, please contact us.
1 American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Diabetic (charcot) foot. Available: https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases–conditions/diabetic-charcot-foot/. Accessed March 30, 2022.
2 Caputo, Gregory M, et al. The Charcot Foot in Diabetes: Six Key Points. Am Fam Physician. 1998; 1;57(11):2705-2710. Available: https://www.aafp.org/afp/1998/0601/p2705.html. Accessed March 30, 2022.
3 Cleveland Clinic. Charcot foot. Available: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15836-charcot-foot. Accessed March 30, 2022.
4 Sommer TC, Lee TH. Charcot foot: the diagnostic dilemma. Am Fam Physician. 2001 Nov 1;64(9):1591-8. Erratum in: Am Fam Physician 2002 Jun 15;65(12):2436-8. PMID: 11730314. Available: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11730314/. Accessed March 30, 2022.
5 American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. Charcot foot. Available: https://www.acfas.org/footankleinfo/charcot-foot.htm. Accessed March 30, 2022.