Foot Case 6 ED Management

Charcot Foot

Proper immobilization and non-weightbearing status for even minor foot injuries in patients with impaired foot sensation is critical in avoiding the dreaded progression from seemingly minor injuries to destruction and collapse.

Once the diagnosis is suspected, orthopedics should be consulted. Patients with Charcot arthropathy should be non-weightbearing until edema and erythema resolve, typically a minimum of 8 weeks. Several partial weightbearing casts are available. Surgical correction has high failure rates and is a last resort.