Strategies for leg amputation in patients with charcot's arthropathy

Abstract

Charcot arthropathy is a challenging disease process to manage. Major lower extremity amputation is often the end-line treatment. However, special consideration must be taken during amputation of a Charcot's limb because the hypervascularity and edema unique to these patients can be an obstacle to proper wound healing and subsequent independence on a prosthetic. We will discuss here staged amputation that takes into account the pathophysiology of Charcot arthropathy by incorporating negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) into the wound-healing process.