Bilateral Charcot Neuroarthropathy in Pregnancy: A Case Report and Review of the Influence of Pregnancy Hormones on Ligament Laxity.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the case of a woman with long-standing poorly controlled type 1 diabetes mellitus who developed bilateral Charcot foot while pregnant. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of this condition in pregnancy.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective review of physical paper medical records; electronically held laboratory results, including glycated hemoglobin; and imaging reports, including plain radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging.

RESULTS

The Charcot feet were treated by standard offloading in total-contact casts or below-knee removable walking boots. As 1 side resolved, the patient was stepped down into normal footwear on one side and a below-knee walking boot on the other. A review of the literature suggests that the increase in ligamentous laxity associated with a rise in circulating hormones, such as relaxin, increases the risk of developing Charcot neuroarthropathy.

CONCLUSION

Bilateral concurrent Charcot neuroarthropathic foot is uncommon, and to our knowledge, this is the first reported case in pregnancy. We present a possible explanation for why there is an increased risk for the development of Charcot neuroarthropathy in pregnancy.