Acute Charcot's arthropathy of the foot and ankle

Charcot's joint (neuropathic osteoarthropathy) is a progressive condition affecting the musculoskeletal system and is characterized by joint dislocation, pathologic fractures, and often debilitating deformities (Figs. 1 and 2).(1) The condition most commonly occurs in patients with diabetes mellitus who have severe peripheral neuropathies. The prevalence of Charcot's joint is variable, ranging from 0.16% of all patients with diabetes(2) to as high as 13% of patients receiving care at a high-risk diabetic foot clinic.(1) The frequency of diagnosis of this condition appears to be increasing as a result of increased awareness of its signs and symptoms.