A prospective study of calcaneal bone mineral density in acute Charcot osteoarthropathy.
OBJECTIVE
To measure prospectively bone mineral density (BMD) of the Charcot and non-Charcot foot in 36 diabetic patients presenting with acute Charcot osteoarthropathy.


METHODS
Calcaneal BMD was measured with quantitative ultrasound at presentation, at 3 months of casting, and at the time of the clinical resolution.


RESULTS
BMD of the Charcot foot was significantly reduced compared with BMD of the non-Charcot foot at presentation (P = 0.001), at 3 months of casting (P < 0.001), and at the time of clinical resolution (P < 0.001). Overall, from the time of presentation to the time of resolution there was a significant fall of BMD of the Charcot foot (P < 0.001) but not of the non-Charcot foot (P = 0.439).


CONCLUSIONS
Although the Charcot foot was treated with casting until clinical resolution, there was a significant fall of BMD only from presentation up until 3 months of casting.
Petrova
Nina L
NL
Diabetic Foot Clinic, King’s College Hospital, London, UK. petrovanl@yahoo.com
Edmonds
Michael E
ME
D001177:Arthropathy, Neurogenic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology*; D002111:Calcaneus / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D017719:Diabetic Foot / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies