Surgical Management of Diabetic Charcot Foot and Ankle Deformities

Charcot neuroarthropathy is a debilitating disease and continues to remain poorly understood. The effects of Charcot neuroarthropathy are almost entirely seen in the foot and ankle, and specialists treating this patient population are commonly the first to appreciate the pathology. Charcot neuroarthropathy manifests mostly in people with diabetes mellitus, severely reducing the overall quality of life. Fragmentation of bones, joint subluxation or even dislocation, and ulceration of the skin often require extensive surgical reconstruction for stabilization of the lower extremity.