title: Total knee arthroplasty in a patient with bilateral Charcot knees.
abstract: Neuropathic arthropathy (Charcot joint) is a progressive and degenerative process resulting from underlying neurovascular and neurotraumatic deficits. Diabetes mellitus is now the most common cause of Charcot joint. A marked predilection for the tarsometatarsal, tarsal, and ankle joints occurs. Involvement of large weight-bearing joints such as the knee is rare. When the knee is involved, and conservative treatment fails, standard surgical intervention often involves arthrodesis. Arthroplasty is relatively contraindicated. The authors report a case of a 61-year-old, diabetic-woman with bilateral Charcot knees who successfully completed a rehabilitation program and achieved independence after left knee arthrodesis and right total knee arthroplasty.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Graduate Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: B D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Fullerton
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Browngoehl
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D001174:Arthrodesis; D001177:Arthropathy, Neurogenic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint; D007720:Knee Prosthesis; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D012775:Shoes