Prevalence of radiographic foot abnormalities in patients with diabetes

Clinicians are increasingly aware that mechanical aspects of foot deformities, such as Charcot changes, clawtoes, bunion deformities, or cavus or planus foot deformities, might have an impact on the occurrence, potential healing, and recurrence of foot ulcers. We report the prevalence of plain radiographic changes and attempt to rate the severity of those deformities in the feet of 456 diabetic veteran medicine clinic enrollees. All 456 radiographs were reviewed by orthopaedic surgeons to specifically identify Charcot changes, presence of arterial calcification, dislocation of the lesser toe metatarsophalangeal joints, hallux interphalangeal joint dislocation, and radiographic evidence of previous surgery. Radiographs of 428 patients were taken while weight-bearing, and these were reviewed to quantify hallux valgus angles, intermetatarsal 1-2 angles, fifth metatarsal-proximal phalangeal angles, second metatarsal lengths, lateral talocalcaneal and talar-first metatarsal angles, and claw toe deformities. The prevalence of Charcot changes was 1.4% (six subjects), and all had radiographic evidence of midfoot Charcot changes. Other deformities, such as clawtoes, hallux valgus, lesser toe joint dislocations, and alterations in arch height, are more common in veterans with diabetes.