Presentation
History of left knee dislocation and nerve injury due to motor accident. Swelling and deformity of the left foot.
Patient Data
Osteosclerosis with deformity is seen in the talus, accompanied by severe degenerative changes in the tibiotalar and talocalcaneal joints. Mild heterogenous increased density and flattening are also observed in the anterosuperior part of the calcaneus.
In addition, osteosclerosis of the thumb's proximal phalanx is accompanied by dislocation of the first metatarsophalangeal and interphalangeal joints. There are also subchondral sclerosis and erosions in the third metatarsophalangeal joint, along with sclerosis of the distal half of the third metatarsal.
Soft tissue swelling is also evident.
Case Discussion
This case typically demonstrates the ankle and foot Charcot arthropathy in a 30 years old male patient with a history of traumatic knee dislocation and nerve injury.
Although the most common cause of Charcot joint is diabetes mellitus, other sensorimotor and autonomic neuropathies of various etiologies are also considered in the predisposing factors list.
The Charcot joint's radiographic features can be remembered using the following mnemonics: 6 D, including dense bones (osteosclerosis), degeneration, destruction, deformity, debris (loose bodies), and dislocation.