Clinical and imaging diagnosis of Charcot knee due to diabetic neuroarthropathy

Abstract

Introduction: Neuroarthropathy is a condition secondary to metabolic, infectious, or genetic diseases. Its usual localization is reported in the foot, but it can affect any joint, compromising its vascular status and modifying the bone condition generating fractures, contractures, and dislocations. Objectives: To report the clinical and imaging findings of a patient with Charcot neuroarthropathy due to diabetes mellitus in a rare joint location. Clinical Case: A 62-year-old woman from colombian southwestern, with a history of diabetes mellitus, in addition to micro and macrovascular complications. She presented a clinical picture of joint pain in the right knee that evolved to an inability to walk. During her care, different imaging tests were performed, finding a fracture of the left femoral condyle and tibial plateau, these typical radiological characteristics plus the clinical changes of the joint, led to the diagnosis of Charcot's knee. Pharmacological interventions were performed in pain in addition to joint immobilization, with adequate evolution in clinical follow-up. Conclusions: Neuroarthropathy is a condition that should be evaluated in all patients with diabetes mellitus and other conditions, expanding the joint revision panorama to less frequent locations such as the knee; early and multidisciplinary intervention can favor positive clinical outcomes.

Keywords

• rodilla de charcot
• diabetes
• neuroartropatía
• artralgia.