Charcot foot (neuropathic arthropathy) in diabetes as a "special needs foot". Case report of an efficient negative pressure wound therapy use.

• Main Author: Bartosz Cybułka
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Medigent Foundation 2018-04-01
• Series: Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Journal
• Online Access: https://www.npwtj.com/index.php/npwtj/article/view/24

Diabetes is the most common endocrine disorder of carbohydrate metabolism. If left untreated, or improperly treated for many years, diabetes leads to multiple organ complications. One of the serious consequences of the disease is damage to the peripheral and autonomic nerves known as diabetic neuropathy. The most advanced form of neuropathy, leading to damage to the structures of the forefoot, midfoot and hindfoot, is the so called Charcot foot, or neuropathic osteoarthropathy. Irreversible damage to the structures of the foot affects between 0,1% and 7.5% of patients with diabetes. The optimal care for that form of foot damage is still a subject to debate. Available methods of caring for Charcot foot include invasive orthopedic treatment and conservative treatment. The use of negative pressure woudn therapy may be an effective, as well as transitional, way of managing Charcot foot.