Major arthrodeses in patients with neuropathic arthropathy

Neuropathic arthropathy is a complex deformity found in a multitude of disease processes. Various forms of conservative and surgical treatment options have been reported throughout the literature; however, a limited number of such treatments address the underlying deformity. This article reviews the indications and surgical criteria necessary to perform successful arthrodesis procedures in patients afflicted with this problem. A case report is presented, using arthrodesis as a salvage procedure for a painful Charcot deformity of the midfoot in a patient with diabetic neuroarthropathy.