Charcot Foot Caught You Off Guard?

Charcot Foot Caught You Off Guard?

At Joseph Stuto, DPM, located in Brooklyn, New York, Dr. Joseph Stuto has seen all types of feet. He has seen healthy feet, broken feet, flat feet, wide feet, infected feet, and so on and so forth. Nothing can really surprise him and his staff. He is an expert at foot care and podiatry.  Dr. Stuto can also help diabetic feet. People with diabetes tend to suffer from different ailments in their feet. Without proper treatment, people with diabetes can acquire serious problems. One such problem is Charcot foot.

Charcot Foot is a rare condition that involves the joints in the feet and the ankles. The joints slowly begin to break down and disintegrate.  As the process wears on, the feet can become completely deformed, infected or worse.

Symptoms

Symptoms of Charcot foot start out relatively mild and become severe over time. They include redness, swelling, and eventually deformity of the foot and ankle.

Cause

What causes the breaking down of the joints and the deformity? Doctors and researchers are not exactly sure why this process occurs, but they have seen a correlation. People who suffer from diabetes are much more likely to get Charcot foot than someone without diabetes.

Treatment

Podiatrists can do a series of different things to help treat the foot and prevent further disintegration. The goal is to completely immobilize the affected foot, which helps to prevent deformity and keep the patient mobile. A cast is usually put on the affected foot. Not only does it prevent unnecessary movement of the joints, but it also helps to prevent further trauma and damage. Then the podiatrist may recommend different types of exercises to ensure that all joints are kept mobile and do not lock or freeze.

Left untreated, Charcot foot can lead to severe deformity, ulcers, infection and eventually amputation or death.

Outcome

What happens once the foot is treated? The outcome varies from person to person. If the case is caught early there is a higher chance of saving the foot and preventing further deformity. Unfortunately, if the foot is not treated in time, it can lead to a much worse scenario. With early intervention, Charcot foot can be healed within one to two years.

If your foot is red, swelling and you have diabetes, it is important to see a podiatrist right away. Dr. Stuto and his staff are trained to help you get the most up to date and professional care when it comes to your feet. Call 718-624-7537 or make an appointment online today. 

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