Epidemiology of the Charcot foot.

The Charcot foot (osteoarthropathy) is a significant lower extremity complication of diabetes mellitus that can result in significant deformity, ulceration, and subsequent limb loss. A result of even unrecognized trauma to an insensitive foot, continued weight bearing on the injured foot promotes the evolution of the disorder that is often diagnosed only after significant deformity has occurred. Although this entity is considered a rare complication of the diabetic population, it has profound implications for those persons affected. Greater awareness of the frequency, distribution, determinants, and natural history of Charcot foot can help clinicians establish an earlier diagnosis and institute effective treatment before the onset of limb-threatening deformity.