title: An Overview of Internal and External Fixation Methods for the Diabetic Charcot Foot and Ankle.
abstract: Diabetic Charcot neuroarthropathy (DCN) of the foot and ankle is a challenging disease with regard to clinical presentation, pathogenesis, and prognosis. Its surgical management is equally difficult to interpret based on the wide array of options available. In the presence of an ulceration or concomitant osteomyelitis, internal fixation by means of screws, plates, or intramedullary nailing needs to be avoided when feasible. External fixation becomes a great surgical tool when managing DCN with concomitant osteomyelitis. This article describes internal and external fixation methods along with available literature to enlighten surgeons faced with treating this complex condition.
authors.affiliation: Division of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery, Department of Orthopaedics, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, MSC 7776, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA.
authors.forename: Crystal L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Ramanujam
authors.affiliation: Division of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery, Department of Orthopaedics, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, MSC 7776, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA. Electronic address: zgonis@uthscsa.edu.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zgonis
mesh_terms: D001177:Arthropathy, Neurogenic / Q000601:surgery*; D017719:Diabetic Foot / Q000601:surgery*; D016267:External Fixators; D033023:Foot Joints; D005592:Fracture Fixation; D006801:Humans; D016268:Internal Fixators
keywords: Charcot neuroarthropathy; Diabetic Charcot foot; Diabetic neuropathy; External fixation; Internal fixation; Reconstruction