BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuCharcot footCharcot joint; Neuropathic arthropathy; Charcot neuropathic osteoarthropathy; Charcot arthropathy; Charcot osteoarthropathy; Diabetic Charcot footCharcot foot is a condition that affects the bones, joints, and soft tissue in the feet and ankles. It can develop as a result of nerve damage in the feet due to diabetes or other nerve injuries.DiabetesDiabetes is a long-term (chronic) disease in which the body cannot regulate the amount of sugar in the blood.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Causes Charcot foot is a rare and disabling disorder. It is a result of nerve damage to the feet. A common cause is peripheral neuropathy.Peripheral neuropathyPeripheral nerves carry information to and from the brain. They also carry signals in both directions between the spinal cord and the rest of the bo...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Diabetes is the most common cause of this type of nerve damage. This damage is more common in people with type 1 diabetes. When blood sugar levels are high over a long time, both nerve and blood vessel damage occurs in the arms and legs.Type 1 diabetesType 1 diabetes is a lifelong (chronic) disease in which there is a high level of sugar (glucose) in the blood.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Blood sugar levelsA blood sugar test measures the amount of sugar (glucose) in a sample of your blood. Glucose is a major source of energy for most cells of the body, ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Related video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersNerve damage makes it harder to notice the amount of pressure or pain on the foot or if it is being stressed. The result is ongoing small injuries to the bones and ligaments that support the foot.You may develop bone stress fractures in your feet, yet never know it. Continuing to walk on the fractured bone often leads to further bone and joint damage. Other factors leading to foot damage include:Blood vessel damage from diabetes can increase or change blood flow to the feet. This can lead to bone loss. Weakened bones in the feet increase the risk of fracture. Injury to the foot signals the body to produce more inflammation-causing chemicals. This contributes to swelling and bone loss. Symptoms Early foot symptoms may include:Mild pain and discomfort Redness Swelling Warmth in the affected foot (noticeably warmer than the other foot)At later stages, bones in the foot break and move out of place, causing the foot or ankle to become deformed.A classic sign of Charcot is rocker-bottom foot. This occurs when the bones in middle of the foot collapse. This causes the arch of the foot to collapse and bow downward. The toes may curl downward.Bones that stick out at odd angles can lead to pressure sores and foot ulcers.Foot ulcersIf you have diabetes, you have an increased chance of developing foot sores, or ulcers, also called diabetic ulcers. Foot ulcers are a common reason ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Because the feet are numb, these sores and ulcers may grow wider or deeper before they are noticed. High blood sugar also makes it hard for the body to fight infection. As a result, these foot ulcers may become infected. Exams and Tests Charcot foot is often difficult to diagnose early on. It can be mistaken for sprains, bone infection, arthritis or joint swelling. Your health care provider will take your medical history and examine your foot and ankle.Blood tests and other lab work may be done to help check for other causes.Your provider may check for nerve damage with these tests:Electromyography ElectromyographyElectromyography (EMG) is a test that checks the health of the muscles and the nerves that control the muscles.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Nerve conduction velocity tests Nerve conduction velocity testsNerve conduction velocity (NCV) is a test to see how fast electrical signals move through a nerve. This test is done along with electromyography (EM...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Nerve biopsyNerve biopsyA nerve biopsy is the removal of a small piece of a nerve for examination.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article The following tests may be done to check for bone and joint damage: Foot x-rays x-raysX-rays are a type of electromagnetic radiation, just like visible light. An x-ray machine sends individual x-ray waves through the body. The images...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Foot MRI Foot MRIA leg MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan uses strong magnets to create pictures of the leg. This may include the ankle, foot, and surrounding tis...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Bone scanBone scanA bone scan is an imaging test used to diagnose bone diseases and find out how severe they are.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Foot x-rays may look normal at early stages of the condition. Diagnosis often comes down to recognizing early symptoms of Charcot foot: swelling, redness, and warmth of the affected foot. Treatment The goal of treatment is to stop bone loss, allow bones to heal, and prevent bones from moving out of place (deformity).Immobilization -- Your provider will have you wear a total contact cast. This will help limit movement of your foot and ankle. You will likely be asked to keep your weight off your foot entirely, so you will need to use crutches, a knee-walker device, or wheelchair.You will have new casts placed on your foot as the swelling comes down. Healing can take a couple of months or more.Protective footwear -- Once your foot has healed, your provider may suggest footwear to help support your foot and prevent re-injury. These may include:Splints Braces Orthotic insoles Charcot restraint orthotic walker, a special boot that provides even pressure to the whole footActivity changes -- You will always be at risk for Charcot foot coming back or developing in your other foot. So your provider may recommend activity changes, such as limiting your standing or walking, to protect your feet. You may need to use a wheelchair to limit activity on your feet.Surgery -- You may need surgery if you have foot ulcers that keep coming back or severe foot or ankle deformity. Surgery can help stabilize your foot and ankle joints and remove bony areas to prevent foot ulcers.Ongoing monitoring -- You will need to see your provider for checkups and take steps to protect your feet for the rest of your life. Outlook (Prognosis) The prognosis depends on the severity of foot deformity and how well you heal without infection. Many people do well with braces, activity changes, and ongoing monitoring. Possible Complications Severe deformity of the foot increases the risk of foot ulcers. If ulcers or the underlying bone becomes infected and hard to treat, it may require amputation.AmputationLeg or foot amputation is the removal of a leg, foot or toes from the body. These body parts are called extremities. Amputations are done either by...Read Article Now Book Mark Article When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if you have diabetes and your foot is warm, red, or swollen. Prevention Healthy habits can help prevent or delay Charcot foot:Keep good control of your blood glucose levels to help prevent or delay Charcot foot. But it can still occur, even in people with good diabetes control. Take care of your feet. Check them every day. Take care of your feetDiabetes can damage the nerves and blood vessels in your feet. This damage can cause numbness and reduce feeling in your feet. As a result, your fe...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article See your foot doctor regularly. Check your feet regularly to look for cuts, redness and sores. Avoid injuring your feet.Open ReferencesReferencesAmerican Diabetes Association Professional Practice Committee. 12. Retinopathy, Neuropathy, and Foot Care: Standards of Care in Diabetes-2025. Diabetes Care. 2025;48(Suppl 1):S252-S265. PMID: 39651973 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39651973/.Baxi O, Yeranosian M, Lin A, Munoz M, Lin S. Orthotic management of neuropathic and dysvascular feet. In: Webster JB, Murphy DP, eds. Atlas of Orthoses and Assistive Devices. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 26.Brownlee M, Aiello LP, Sun JK, et al. Complications of diabetes mellitus. In: Melmed S, Auchus RJ, Goldfine AB, Rosen CJ, Kopp PA, et al, eds. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 15th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 38.AllVideoImagesTogNerve conduction test - illustration The nerve conduction velocity test is performed to evaluate nerve function. It tests the speed impulses travel through a nerve.Nerve conduction testillustrationDiabetes and nerve damage - illustration Diabetes can damage the nerves and cause a complication called neuropathy. This generally begins as loss of sensation in the toes, and possibly fingers. Eventually, the neuropathy can move up the person's legs or arms. Nerve damage results in decreased ability to feel pain, pressure, and extremes of temperature. Diabetes and nerve damageillustrationDiabetic foot care - illustration People with diabetes are prone to foot problems because the disease can cause damage to the blood vessels and nerves, which may result in decreased ability to sense a trauma to the foot. The immune system is also altered, so that the person with diabetes cannot efficiently fight infection.Diabetic foot careillustrationNerve conduction test - illustration The nerve conduction velocity test is performed to evaluate nerve function. It tests the speed impulses travel through a nerve.Nerve conduction testillustrationDiabetes and nerve damage - illustration Diabetes can damage the nerves and cause a complication called neuropathy. This generally begins as loss of sensation in the toes, and possibly fingers. Eventually, the neuropathy can move up the person's legs or arms. Nerve damage results in decreased ability to feel pain, pressure, and extremes of temperature. Diabetes and nerve damageillustrationDiabetic foot care - illustration People with diabetes are prone to foot problems because the disease can cause damage to the blood vessels and nerves, which may result in decreased ability to sense a trauma to the foot. The immune system is also altered, so that the person with diabetes cannot efficiently fight infection.Diabetic foot careillustrationRelated Information Review Date: 11/7/2024 Reviewed By: C. Benjamin Ma, MD, Professor, Chief, Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, San Francisco, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. 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Charcot footCharcot joint; Neuropathic arthropathy; Charcot neuropathic osteoarthropathy; Charcot arthropathy; Charcot osteoarthropathy; Diabetic Charcot footCharcot foot is a condition that affects the bones, joints, and soft tissue in the feet and ankles. It can develop as a result of nerve damage in the feet due to diabetes or other nerve injuries.DiabetesDiabetes is a long-term (chronic) disease in which the body cannot regulate the amount of sugar in the blood.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Causes Charcot foot is a rare and disabling disorder. It is a result of nerve damage to the feet. A common cause is peripheral neuropathy.Peripheral neuropathyPeripheral nerves carry information to and from the brain. They also carry signals in both directions between the spinal cord and the rest of the bo...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Diabetes is the most common cause of this type of nerve damage. This damage is more common in people with type 1 diabetes. When blood sugar levels are high over a long time, both nerve and blood vessel damage occurs in the arms and legs.Type 1 diabetesType 1 diabetes is a lifelong (chronic) disease in which there is a high level of sugar (glucose) in the blood.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Blood sugar levelsA blood sugar test measures the amount of sugar (glucose) in a sample of your blood. Glucose is a major source of energy for most cells of the body, ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Related video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersNerve damage makes it harder to notice the amount of pressure or pain on the foot or if it is being stressed. The result is ongoing small injuries to the bones and ligaments that support the foot.You may develop bone stress fractures in your feet, yet never know it. Continuing to walk on the fractured bone often leads to further bone and joint damage. Other factors leading to foot damage include:Blood vessel damage from diabetes can increase or change blood flow to the feet. This can lead to bone loss. Weakened bones in the feet increase the risk of fracture. Injury to the foot signals the body to produce more inflammation-causing chemicals. This contributes to swelling and bone loss. Symptoms Early foot symptoms may include:Mild pain and discomfort Redness Swelling Warmth in the affected foot (noticeably warmer than the other foot)At later stages, bones in the foot break and move out of place, causing the foot or ankle to become deformed.A classic sign of Charcot is rocker-bottom foot. This occurs when the bones in middle of the foot collapse. This causes the arch of the foot to collapse and bow downward. The toes may curl downward.Bones that stick out at odd angles can lead to pressure sores and foot ulcers.Foot ulcersIf you have diabetes, you have an increased chance of developing foot sores, or ulcers, also called diabetic ulcers. Foot ulcers are a common reason ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Because the feet are numb, these sores and ulcers may grow wider or deeper before they are noticed. High blood sugar also makes it hard for the body to fight infection. As a result, these foot ulcers may become infected. Exams and Tests Charcot foot is often difficult to diagnose early on. It can be mistaken for sprains, bone infection, arthritis or joint swelling. Your health care provider will take your medical history and examine your foot and ankle.Blood tests and other lab work may be done to help check for other causes.Your provider may check for nerve damage with these tests:Electromyography ElectromyographyElectromyography (EMG) is a test that checks the health of the muscles and the nerves that control the muscles.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Nerve conduction velocity tests Nerve conduction velocity testsNerve conduction velocity (NCV) is a test to see how fast electrical signals move through a nerve. This test is done along with electromyography (EM...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Nerve biopsyNerve biopsyA nerve biopsy is the removal of a small piece of a nerve for examination.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article The following tests may be done to check for bone and joint damage: Foot x-rays x-raysX-rays are a type of electromagnetic radiation, just like visible light. An x-ray machine sends individual x-ray waves through the body. The images...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Foot MRI Foot MRIA leg MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan uses strong magnets to create pictures of the leg. This may include the ankle, foot, and surrounding tis...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Bone scanBone scanA bone scan is an imaging test used to diagnose bone diseases and find out how severe they are.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Foot x-rays may look normal at early stages of the condition. Diagnosis often comes down to recognizing early symptoms of Charcot foot: swelling, redness, and warmth of the affected foot. Treatment The goal of treatment is to stop bone loss, allow bones to heal, and prevent bones from moving out of place (deformity).Immobilization -- Your provider will have you wear a total contact cast. This will help limit movement of your foot and ankle. You will likely be asked to keep your weight off your foot entirely, so you will need to use crutches, a knee-walker device, or wheelchair.You will have new casts placed on your foot as the swelling comes down. Healing can take a couple of months or more.Protective footwear -- Once your foot has healed, your provider may suggest footwear to help support your foot and prevent re-injury. These may include:Splints Braces Orthotic insoles Charcot restraint orthotic walker, a special boot that provides even pressure to the whole footActivity changes -- You will always be at risk for Charcot foot coming back or developing in your other foot. So your provider may recommend activity changes, such as limiting your standing or walking, to protect your feet. You may need to use a wheelchair to limit activity on your feet.Surgery -- You may need surgery if you have foot ulcers that keep coming back or severe foot or ankle deformity. Surgery can help stabilize your foot and ankle joints and remove bony areas to prevent foot ulcers.Ongoing monitoring -- You will need to see your provider for checkups and take steps to protect your feet for the rest of your life. Outlook (Prognosis) The prognosis depends on the severity of foot deformity and how well you heal without infection. Many people do well with braces, activity changes, and ongoing monitoring. Possible Complications Severe deformity of the foot increases the risk of foot ulcers. If ulcers or the underlying bone becomes infected and hard to treat, it may require amputation.AmputationLeg or foot amputation is the removal of a leg, foot or toes from the body. These body parts are called extremities. Amputations are done either by...Read Article Now Book Mark Article When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if you have diabetes and your foot is warm, red, or swollen. Prevention Healthy habits can help prevent or delay Charcot foot:Keep good control of your blood glucose levels to help prevent or delay Charcot foot. But it can still occur, even in people with good diabetes control. Take care of your feet. Check them every day. Take care of your feetDiabetes can damage the nerves and blood vessels in your feet. This damage can cause numbness and reduce feeling in your feet. As a result, your fe...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article See your foot doctor regularly. Check your feet regularly to look for cuts, redness and sores. Avoid injuring your feet.Open ReferencesReferencesAmerican Diabetes Association Professional Practice Committee. 12. Retinopathy, Neuropathy, and Foot Care: Standards of Care in Diabetes-2025. Diabetes Care. 2025;48(Suppl 1):S252-S265. PMID: 39651973 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39651973/.Baxi O, Yeranosian M, Lin A, Munoz M, Lin S. Orthotic management of neuropathic and dysvascular feet. In: Webster JB, Murphy DP, eds. Atlas of Orthoses and Assistive Devices. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 26.Brownlee M, Aiello LP, Sun JK, et al. Complications of diabetes mellitus. In: Melmed S, Auchus RJ, Goldfine AB, Rosen CJ, Kopp PA, et al, eds. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 15th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 38.
