An atypical and bilateral presentation of Charcot foot disease.

BACKGROUND: Charcot neuropathic osteoarthropathy (CNO) is one of the most devastating complications of neuropathy in patients with diabetes. Establishing diagnosis of CNO is difficult, due to the lack of clear clinical and radiological diagnostic criteria. Diagnosis is even more difficult when there is atypical and bilateral clinical presentation. Since CNO may lead to foot deformity, lower-extremity amputation and significant decrements in quality of life, it must be detected and treated without delay. Treatment focuses mainly on interruption of the inflammatory process and relief from pain using feet offloading devices. In more severe cases, surgical intervention may be needed. Additionally, the use of custom-made insoles and custom-made orthopaedic shoes is mandatory. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a case of a young diabetic patient who presented to our clinic with bilateral and atypical presentation of Charcot foot disease. Patient was treated successfully upon diagnosis with bilateral aircast offloading. Unfortunately, due to depression and non-compliance, the disease progressed to severe and permanent lesions later on. CONCLUSION: Despite the rareness of this disease, clinicians must include CNO into differential diagnosis of diabetic foot oedema, inflammation and deformity.

Successful nonsurgical therapy of a diabetic foot osteomyelitis in a patient with peripheral artery disease with almost complete radiological restoration.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is a common complication in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and can consequently lead to soft tissue infection and osteomyelitis. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a case of a 68-year-old man with a history of Type 2 DM and symptomatic peripheral artery disease, referred to our hospital due to an infected lower extremity DFU. Cultures revealed methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. There was a significant increase of inflammatory marker levels and plain X-rays revealed osteomyelitis. He underwent lower extremity angioplasty for the restoration of the blood flow. He received targeted intravenous antibiotic therapy for 2 weeks and continued ciprofloxacin along with clindamycin per os for 10 more weeks as outpatient. CONCLUSION: As a result, the patient presented almost complete healing of his DFU, reconstruction of osteomyelitis defects in X-ray and complete restoration of his foot functionality only 4 months after the end of the treatment. This case demonstrates a DFU complicated by osteomyelitis which resolved medically and nonsurgically, with the exception of surgical restoration of the blood flow.