Charcot Foot: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment
قدم شاركو
Charcot foot is inflammatory bone and joint damage in people with neuropathy, often related to diabetes. A newly hot, swollen foot requires urgent assessment even when pain is mild.
What is Charcot Foot?
Continued loading can lead to fractures and collapse of the arch. It differs from Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, and not every swollen foot is Charcot neuroarthropathy.
Related reading: Diabetic foot, sensation and circulation.
Symptoms
One foot may become warmer, redder and more swollen than the other, with variable or little pain. Do not wait for deformity or an ulcer before seeking help.
Causes
Reduced sensation, inflammation and loading contribute to skeletal injury, sometimes after unnoticed minor trauma. Infection and other mimics must be assessed because they can also coexist.
Risk factors
Neuropathy is central, with diabetes a common cause. Injury may occur without an open wound or obvious pain, and the other foot also needs continued monitoring.
Diagnosis
The team examines sensation, circulation and skin and obtains radiographs. Early X-rays may be normal; persistent suspicion may require MRI rather than dismissing the diagnosis.
Treatment
Specialist immobilization and offloading begin promptly when suspected, usually with an appropriate knee-high device. Follow-up determines duration; surgery is reserved for selected circumstances.
Complications
Deformity, ulcers, infection and impaired walking may develop, with amputation in severe complications. Early recognition and offloading reduce but cannot eliminate damage risk.
Prevention
Inspect both feet daily, manage glucose and use prescribed footwear after stabilization. Avoid barefoot walking and do not abandon immobilization because pain has disappeared.
When to see a doctor
A newly hot, swollen foot with neuropathy needs urgent assessment; avoid loading it until advised. Fever, an infected wound or systemic deterioration may require emergency care.