Charcot of the calcaneus

Area of Science:

• Podiatric medicine
• Orthopedic surgery
• Diabetic foot complications

Background:

• Charcot of the calcaneus, though less common than midfoot involvement, leads to substantial patient morbidity.
• Existing treatments for calcaneal Charcot neuroarthropathy are often adapted from those used for other foot joints.
• The rising prevalence of diabetes mellitus is expected to increase the incidence of calcaneal Charcot.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current understanding and management strategies for Charcot of the calcaneus.
• To highlight the importance of surgical principles in severe cases.
• To identify future research directions for treating this condition.

Main Methods:

• Review of current literature and treatment paradigms for calcaneal Charcot neuroarthropathy.
• Discussion of nonoperative and operative management strategies.
• Analysis of surgical principles including soft tissue handling.

Main Results:

• Most cases of neuropathic calcaneal conditions can be managed nonoperatively.
• Surgical intervention is considered a more conservative approach for severe deformities or ulcerations.
• Effective surgical management hinges on meticulous soft tissue balancing and handling.

Conclusions:

• Charcot of the calcaneus presents a significant clinical challenge with increasing incidence due to diabetes.
• Surgical management requires careful attention to soft tissue.
• Future research should explore advanced techniques like arthrodesis and osteotomy with external fixation.