Charcot´s disease of the foot and ankle in diabetic patients: analysis of the reasons for re admission at the Hospital Diabetic Unity

Abstract

One of the most devastating complications within diabetic patients is Diabetic Charcot neuroarthropathy. It can lead to osteoarticular deformities, with risk of ulceration, infection or even lower limb amputation.

In this paper, a population of diabetic patients with Charcot neuroarthropathy sequelae was studied. Data was analyzed on the reasons for the patients re consultation, the treatments they were subjected to and the obtained results. The study was conducted retrospectively by the examination of medical records from 22 patients that were treated between 2014 and 2018, with a follow-up of at least a year, at the Hospital Policial in Montevideo, Uruguay. Furthermore, it had the hospital’s Ethics Committee approval. The data analysis was conducted by the completion of a form including demographic data, initial treatment, reasons for re consultation and secondary treatments. According to the findings, even though highly recommended protocols were followed at the onset of the disease, high percentage of ulceration and complementary surgeries were observed (59%) within the patient’s data.  The results are linked to the lack of risk patient´s categorization in order to achieve early uptake. Categorizing the patient at risk makes it possible to establish health education and treatment strategies aimed at reducing percentages of new injuries that lead to the need for secondary treatments or amputations.