A Charcot Joint or foot is joint destruction caused by a lack of protective sensation or feeling on the top and bottom of the foot. The incidence of Charcot Joints is 5-10% of patients with Diabetes Mellitus. The destructive process of Charcot may be triggered by a single injury or repeat trauma to bones and joints of the foot. The articular cartilage begins to erode. Fragmentation, disintegration, and collapse of the foot will most likely occur.

The exact cause of Charcot is unknown, but a French and German theory exist. With the French theory, there is damage to nerve centers with a change in the control of blood flow to bones and joints leads to persistent hyperemia (an unusual increase in the amount of blood or congestion in a part which gives rise to reddened areas on the skin) and active bone resorption. As far as the German theory is concerned, there is an extreme progression of degenerative joint disease following the loss of proprioception (movements and position of the body), and protective sensation.

The top three causes of Charcot are due to diabetes, syringomyelia (a disease of the spinal cord in which fluid accumulates in the cavities, replacing the nerve tissue and causing muscle atrophy and spasticity), and tabes dorsalis (a late form of syphilis involving the degeneration of the spinal cord and sensory nerve trunks, causing muscular incoordination, intense pain, disturbances in sensation, and eventual paralysis. Some other causes of Charcot are Alcoholism, Cerebral Palsy, Polio, Leprosy, Tuberculosis, Multiple Sclerosis, and brain injury.

Charcot's presentation may come in the form of a red, hot, swollen joint. The joint may also be deformed and unstable. A person may or may not have pain depending on the progression of the illness. Some joint destruction may be noticeable. Achilles and patellar reflexes may be diminished. Pulses in the feet are usually easily palpable. Fractures and dislocations of bones in the foot may occur.

On xray, one may see Atrophic and Hypertrophic Charcot. With Atrophic Charcot, one may see extensive resorption of bone ends, osteoporosis, and no spurs or fragments are present (usually seen in upper extremity). With Hypertrophic Charcot, xrays show no osteoporosis. Fractures and dislocations of bones and disorganization of joints are noticeable. (seen in lower extremity)

The stages of Charcot are Developmental, Coalescence, and Reconstrctive. In the Developmental (acute destructive stage), there is joint laxity, soft tissue swelling, and bone cartilage debris. In the Coalescence (reparative stage), there is less swelling and healing of fractures and fragments. In the Reconstructive (Final Stage of Bone Healing), there is bone repair and remodeling with the restoring of stability and revascularization of bony fragments. Although not given a formal stage name, one may also encounter Charcot feet that have ulcers present.

Other diseases that may present in a similar fashion as Charcot include Osteomyelitis, acute septic arthritis, gout, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Treatment of Charcot may be conservative or surgical. Some conservative measures include strict cessation (stopping) of weightbearing. A compression cast may be applied to the foot to control swelling. Cast immobilization for fractures are applied sometimes for 8-12 weeks. One may use long term accommodative footwear such as orthopedic shoes, custom molded shoes, ankle foot orthoses, and patella tendon bracing. Surgical choices are not performed during the acute phase. However, surgery includes excising or cutting out the foot ulcer, stabilizing digits, resecting metatarsal heads, fusing joints of the foot, and amputation. With Stages 1 and 2 protect the joint by immobilization and casting. With Stage 3 use custom molded shoes, orthotics, or surgery.

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