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Charcot foot in a Hong Kong Chinese diabetic population

H B Leung1, Y C Ho, W C Wong

  • 1Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong. adrianleunghb@yahoo.com

Hong Kong Medical Journal = Xianggang Yi Xue Za Zhi
|June 5, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Charcot foot is uncommon in Hong Kong Chinese diabetic patients, often presenting late with superimposed infection. Late presentation is linked to recurrent ulcers and a concerning mortality rate.

Area of Science:

  • Diabetology
  • Podiatry
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Charcot foot is a serious complication of diabetes mellitus.
  • Understanding its epidemiology is crucial for patient management and service planning.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the epidemiology of Charcot foot in Hong Kong Chinese diabetic patients.
  • To establish baseline data for service benchmarking.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective cohort study.
  • Involved comparing clinical presentations of diabetic patients with Charcot foot against age- and sex-matched controls.
  • Data collected between 1995 and 2007.

Main Results:

  • Twenty-five cases of Charcot foot identified over 12 years.
  • Mid-foot involvement (64%) and superimposed infection (61%) were common.
  • Late presentation (33%) was associated with recurrent ulcers and a 5-year mortality of up to 33%.

Conclusions:

  • Charcot foot is rare in this population.
  • Delayed presentation and superimposed infection are significant factors.
  • Patients with Charcot foot face risks of recurrent ulcers and increased mortality.
Abstract

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