A Retrospective Analysis of 50 Consecutive Charcot Diabetic Salvage Reconstructions

Between January 2000 and May 2003, 50 consecutive Charcot diabetic salvage procedures were performed on 44 patients (average age 55.1 years). Twenty-four women (26 feet) and 20 men (24 feet) underwent a reconstructive limb salvage procedure for diabetic Charcot neuroarthropathy using a systematic surgical approach involving internal and external fixation. A retrospective analysis of patient satisfaction and clinical outcome was evaluated over a 2- to 5-year postoperative period; 75% of patients completed the SF-36 health survey and a patient satisfaction survey. A reliability analysis found the SF-36 survey to be an adequate health measurement tool in this Charcot neuroarthropathy cohort. Analysis of variance and categorical data analysis showed that the patients improved statistically significantly in response to surgical intervention; however, none of the demographic variables was statistically significantly associated with patient outcomes as measured by the SF-36 and the patient satisfaction survey. Level of Clinical Evidence: 2

Key Words: amputation, arthrodesis, Charcot neuroarthropathy, diabetes, limb salvage, outcomes assessment