Charcot Foot is a rare complication of Diabetes related Neuropathy, where nerve damage makes you lose feeling in your lower legs and feet. This loss of feeling makes it difficult, or in severe cases impossible, to detect pain or other signs of injury. This causes the bones in the foot to become weak and disorganized known as ‘Charcot Neuroarthropathy’. Due to Charcot Foot, even a small injury or infection can lead to serious complications because the damage goes unnoticed.
As the bones get weaker, they can break and move out of place. When that happens:
Your foot may lose its shape. The arch in the middle of your foot may drop until the bones are lower than your heel or toes. Doctors sometimes call this “rocker bottom”Your toes may curlYour ankle might become twisted and unsteadyBones may press against your shoes. This can cause open sores on your skin that can get infected. Poor blood flow, which is a common side effect of diabetes, may make it hard for infections to heal. If that goes on for too long, you may need to have your foot removed.
The symptoms of Charcot Foot manifests with the following signs:
Redness of the feetFeet feel warm to the touchSwelling of the feet
The interaction of several component factors (Diabetes, sensory-motor Neuropathy, Autonomic Neuropathy, Trauma, and Metabolic abnormalities of bone) results in an acute localized inflammatory condition that may lead to varying degrees and patterns of bone destruction, subluxation, dislocation, and deformity. In severe cases, this can lead to a foot amputation or cause life-threatening complications.
In the very initial stages of Charcot Foot, X-rays and lab test results may be normal, thus it becomes hard to diagnose. If your doctor isn’t a foot specialist or doesn’t treat Diabetes often, they may not know much about Charcot Foot. If you’re having foot problems, try to find a Foot & Ankle Specialist who can give you the correct diagnosis. Doctors need to adopt a multi-disciplinary approach to treat Charcot Foot problems. The comprehensive goal of treating this issue is to ensure that the feet remain ulcer free, and the patient is able to walk freely with the help of orthopaedic shoes.
(Author: Dr Dhrumin Sangoi, Consultant Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Surgeon, S.L Raheja Hospital, Mahim - A Fortis Associate)
