Lower-extremity amputation risk after Charcot arthropathy and diabetic foot ulcer

Min Woong Sohn, Rodney M. Stuck, Michael Pinzur, Todd A. Lee, Elly Budiman-Mak

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

175 Scopus citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVE - To compare risks of lower-extremity amputation between patients with Charcot arthropathy and those with diabetic foot ulcers. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS - A retrospective cohort of patients with incident Charcot arthropathy or diabetic foot ulcers in 2003 was followed for 5 years for any major and minor amputations in the lower extremities. RESULTS- After a mean follow-up of 37 ± 20 and 43 ± 18 months, the Charcot and ulcer groups had 4.1 and 4.7 amputations per 100 person-years, respectively. Among patients <65 years old at the end of follow-up, amputation risk relative to patients with Charcot alone was 7 times higher for patients with ulcer alone and 12 times higher for patients with Charcot and ulcer. CONCLUSIONS - Charcot arthropathy by itself does not pose a serious amputation risk, but ulcer complication multiplicatively increases the risk. Early surgical intervention for Charcot patients in the absence of deformity or ulceration may not be advisable.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)98-100
Number of pages3
JournalDiabetes Care
Volume33
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2010

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Internal Medicine
  • Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
  • Advanced and Specialized Nursing

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