[Diabetic osteoarthropathy (DO) of the forefoot]

In patients suffering from diabetic osteoarthropathy, a total of 97 forefeet were evaluated concerning their bone tissue and soft tissue transformations. The most prevalent forms of demineralisation were circumscribed osteoporosis (21%) and diffuse osteoporosis (20%). Subluxations (6.2%), dislocations (2.1%), erosions (8.3%), marginal usures (11.3%) or cysts of the bone (11.3%) were seen only rarely. Extensions of the articular space (10.3%) were more prevalent than disappearances of the articular space (4.1%). The MTP (26.8%) and PIP joints (10.3%) were confirmed to be preferred localisations. A sudden loss of articular surface (25%) and a fast transition to mutilation (23.5%) show the increasing tendency of the fast transition to advanced stages of destruction by omitting the earlier stages.