What Are The Causes And Complications Of Charcot Foot?

Unsteady And Twisted Ankle

Individuals affected by Charcot foot often experience an unsteady and twisted ankle as a result of their disorder. A twisted ankle can also trigger the development of Charcot foot in some cases. In addition, the ankle joint can pop out of place or dislocate, allowing the foot to twist into an abnormal position without the patient noticing. Charcot foot is characterized by the weakness and breakdown of the joints in an individual's ankle and foot. As the joints become deformed, the foot will become weakened and cause problems with the patient's balance. The issues with balance cause the individual to place stress on bones and muscles that do not typically experience stress. This mechanism results in further weakness and instability of the foot and ankle as the disorder progresses. Instability can cause the foot to fit inappropriately in footwear that results in ulceration, making it difficult to fit a custom brace or footwear to the foot to help treat the disorder. Without any other effective option for treatment, patients with an unstable joint will require surgery to re-stabilize the foot or ankle.