All YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CHARCOT NEUROARTHROPATHY

1. All YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CHARCOT NEUROARTHROPATHY lermagazine01.blogspot.com/2020/08/everything-you-should-know-about.html Charcot Neuroarthropathy This is a very rare condition that results in weakening of the bones in the foot and ankle. In severe conditions, this can also result in joint dislocation, fractures, debilitating deformations due to the continuous use of the affected foot in activities. According to the LER magazine, although the epidemiological rate of occurrence of this rare disease is just 0.1% to 0.3% and that too in the patients that are suffering from diabetes. But, this can go higher in patients that are suffering from neuropathy, which is also called as nerve damage. In simple words, because of the nerve damage, the patients usually stop feeling or sensing any stimulus in that area. And therefore, in this neuropathy’s result of declined lack of senses, the patients continue to walk or do activities with the foot, further making it worse. How the disease progresses:- ●In the beginning, one might feel the affected area’s temperature warmer than the body on touching. ●This is followed by the swelling and redness in that area. During these times, the X-ray will show soft tissue swollen, joint dislocation, and acute bone fragmentation followed by joint dislocations that can be experienced by the patient. ●In the later stages, the above-mentioned symptoms will heal. Even the x-ray will show bone healing. But even after this issue resolves, frequent deformity still prevails. Other than diabetes, some other diseases such as leprosy, syphilis, poliomyelitis, chronic alcoholism, or syringomyelia are some of the less common causes of Charcot neuroarthropathy. Also, there are numerous other diagnoses that can keep the practitioner from immediately diagnosing Charcot Neuroarthropathy. Some of such major differential diagnoses include infection or osteomyelitis. Infections such as cellulitis, arthritis, etc can be rejected as the differential diagnosis if open ulceration is not present and traumatic inoculation is absent too. Diagnosis: 1/2

2. The in-between time from the start of the symptoms to the diagnosis can be of several weeks or months too. And as mentioned earlier, initially it can be hard for the practitioner to diagnose Charcot neuroarthropathy as the early symptoms can mimic it perfectly as an infection or injury. Diagnosis can be done on the basis of the symptoms and bone medical history. The surgeon will examine and study the condition of your ankle and foot, X-rays, and other imaging procedures are performed. Once the treatment begins, the x-rays are taken periodically as they can aid in examining and evaluating the condition of the syndrome. Treatment:- Initially, you will be advised on non-surgical treatment for this and it is imperative that patients follow the treatment advised by the surgeon, and failing to do so may lead you in losing a foot or leg. Non-surgical Treatment- these include modifications in activity, immobilization, and using the protective splint, walking base, orthosis, or cast. It is advised that one should not get involved in activities that include weight bearing. After stable or constant healing is noted in the final stage, the treatment then involves accommodative footwear with protective orthoses. Surgical treatment involves selective patients that need to be treated in the early stages with open reduction or internal fixation and fusion while in later stages, surgeries will involve realignment osteotomy or ostectomy. Healing from it can take several months, also, if you have been through the surgical treatment, the recovery time will be twice the non-diabetic foot. 2/2