Charcot's foot

Diabetic osteoarthropathy is a chronic progressive arthropathy involving the bones and joints being constantly associated to somatic and autonomic peripheral neuropathy. The pathogenesis is related to sensory and motor neuropathy with morphologic foot alterations, relaxation and abnormal position on walking till complete collapse of the foot shown by the depressed longitudinal medial arch. Bone reabsorption due to osteoclasis and increased blood flow until osteomalacia appears, is characteristic of this arthropathy. The clinical features vary according to the location and severity of articular impairment and the stage of identification. The metatarsophalangeal or tarsometatarsal joint may be involved. The typical manifestation of Charcot's foot is plantar ulcer of variable location according to the weight-bearing area. Treatment tends to reduce the abnormal stress predisposing to ulceration with tailored footwear and orthoses.