CHARCOT ARTHROPATHY

SUMMARY

1. Commonly occurs in daibetics.

2. Joint findings are similar to severe OA, with osteophytes, except erosions can also occur.

3. Commonly affects the MTPJ, tarsal and talar joints.

4. Pathology: repeated trauma secondary to loss of pain sensation and/or proprioception; autonomic dysfunction that leads to regional hyperemia, osteoclast stimulation, and active bone resorption.

5. As part of healing, bone becomes overgrown (periositis), and non-inflammatory joint effusions develop.

6. Eventually, involved joints become unstable and lax.

Reference(s)

Wilkinson, I., Furmedge, D. and Sinharay, R. (2017). Oxford handbook of clinical medicine. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Get it on Amazon.
Feather, A., Randall, D. and Waterhouse, M. (2020). Kumar And Clark’s Clinical Medicine. 10th ed. S.L.: Elsevier Health Sciences. Get it on Amazon.
Hannaman, R. A., Bullock, L., Hatchell, C. A., & Yoffe, M. (2016). Internal medicine review core curriculum, 2017-2018. CO Springs, CO: MedStudy.
Therapeutic Guidelines. Melbourne: Therapeutic Guidelines Limited. https://www.tg.org.au [Accessed 2021].