Abstract
Infection in a foot affected by Charcot neuroarthropathy (CN) is one of the most challenging conditions to manage and requires a specialist multidisciplinary approach in order to prevent the risk of foot amputation. The presentation of infection can be divided into two parts: infection in the acute or active Charcot foot and infection in the chronic or inactive Charcot foot. Treatment of the infected acute active Charcot foot can be divided into three parts: treatment of the infection, off-loading treatment of the active Charcot foot to convert to an inactive foot and management of deformity. However, the commonest presentation is infection in a burnt out (inactive) Charcot foot triggered by skin breakdown from abnormal pressure areas due to the presence of deformity and/or instability. Treatment of the infected chronic (inactive) deformed and/or unstable Charcot foot usually requires a two stage reconstruction: first stage- comprising eradication of infection prior to a secondary stage of definitive reconstruction and stabilisation. The choices of fixation include external stabilization, internal stabilization and a combination of both.
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Kavarthapu, V. (2019). Infected Charcot Foot: Surgical Management. In: Edmonds, M., Sumpio, B. (eds) Limb Salvage of the Diabetic Foot. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-17918-6_37
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-17918-6_37
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