10 Charcot Foot Symptoms

By lynda

Reviewed: dr. vanta

Article Sources

Article Sources

• 1. 'Charcot Foot.' University of California, San Francisco, surgery.ucsf.edu/conditions--procedures/charcot-foot.aspx
• 2. 'Diabetes Complications and Amputation Prevention.' Foot Health Facts, www.foothealthfacts.org/conditions/diabetic-complications-and-amputation-prevention
• 3. 'Charcot Foot.' Foot Health Facts, www.foothealthfacts.org/conditions/charcot-foot
• 4. 'Peripheral Neuropathy - Symptoms and Causes.' Mayo Clinic, 22 May 2019, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/peripheral-neuropathy/symptoms-causes/syc-20352061
• 5. 'Charcot Arthropathy' FootCareMD, www.footcaremd.org/conditions-treatments/the-diabetic-foot/charcot-arthropathy
• 6. 'A Patient’s Guide to Foot Anatomy.' OrthoNorCal, www.orthonorcal.com/blog/a-patients-guide-to-foot-anatomy-21481.html

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Charcot foot is a complication of diabetes that involves the progressive weakening of the bones and soft tissue in the foot. Peripheral neuropathy, which is primarily responsible for nerve damage, can cause a loss of sensation, pain, weakness and numbness.

This usually results in a series of microtraumas going unnoticed, even when the foot is being used as normal. Over time, this can cause a repetitive strain injury. Charcot foot is not common. It's thought that mistaken and late diagnoses may have distorted its incidence, and it may be more prevalent than previously thought.¹‘Charcot Foot.’ University of California, San Francisco, surgery.ucsf.edu/conditions–procedures/charcot-foot.aspx

Bone Structure Loss

The foot has 26 bones, 33 joints and more than 100 tendons, muscles and ligaments, while the ankle has three bones that attach it to the foot.⁶‘A Patient’s Guide to Foot Anatomy.’ OrthoNorCal, www.orthonorcal.com/blog/a-patients-guide-to-foot-anatomy-21481.html Sprains and other injuries in this area aren't uncommon. In most instances, people make a full recovery. However, those who have peripheral neuropathy may not feel the pain because the nerves are damaged.

The continued use of the foot can result in bone trauma, which can lead to bone loss. If the use is prolonged and the condition remains unmanaged, the bones in the foot may eventually lose structure and collapse.