Internal fixation techniques for midfoot charcot neuroarthropathy in patients with diabetes

Charcot neuropathic osteoarthropathy (CN) of the foot and ankle is a poorly understood destructive process that poses a great clinical challenge to foot and ankle specialists. Neuropathic fractures or dislocations in the foot and ankle predispose patients to increased morbidity, premature mortality, and can greatly decrease quality of life. Early recognition and treatment of CN is imperative to prevent the development of permanent deformities. The purpose of this article is to review the history, cause, and classification of CN and to discuss commonly used internal fixation techniques and their indications.