The Charcot Foot in Diabetes

• DOI: 10.2337/dc11-0844
• Publication Date: 2011-08-25T21:52:35Z
• Authors: Lee C. Rogers; Robert G. Frykberg; David G. Armstrong; Andrew J.M. Boulton; Michael Edmonds; Georges Ha Van; Agnes Hartemann; Frances Game; William Jeffcoate; Alexandra Jirkovska; Edward Jude; Stephan Morbach; William B. Morrison; Michael Pinzur; Dario Pitocco; Lee Sanders; Dane K. Wukich; Luigi Uccioli
• Keywords: Orthotic Devices; 610; ANKLE FRACTURES; PATIENT; MELLITUS; Fractures, Bone; Immobilization; 03 medical and health sciences; ARTHRODESIS; 0302 clinical medicine; Diabetic Neuropathies; Bone Density; Humans; Ankle Injuries; NEUROPATHIC ARTHROPATHY; RING FIXATION; Reviews/Commentaries/ADA Statements; Foot; RANK Ligand; RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED-TRIAL; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; NEUROARTHROPATHY; Diabetic Foot; IN-111 LEUKOCYTE; MIDFOOT; 3. Good health; Radiography; Bone Diseases, Metabolic; Disease Progression; Cytokines; Arthropathy, Neurogenic; Algorithms; Ankle Joint

The diabetic Charcot foot syndrome is a serious and potentially limb-threatening lower-extremity complication of diabetes. First described in 1883, this enigmatic condition continues to challenge even the most experienced practitioners. Now considered an inflammatory syndrome, the diabetic Charcot foot is characterized by varying degrees of bone and joint disorganization secondary to underlying neuropathy, trauma, and perturbations of bone metabolism. An international task force of experts was convened by the American Diabetes Association and the American Podiatric Medical Association in January 2011 to summarize available evidence on the pathophysiology, natural history, presentations, and treatment recommendations for this entity.