Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Charcot foot is a painless progressive osteoarthropathy of one or more joints due to an underlying neurological lesion, leading to deformities of the foot by the non-infectious destruction of bones and joints.

The interest of this observation is to show on the one hand the role that the education of diabetics plays in the early diagnosis of Charcot foot and on the other hand the need for a multidisciplinary team in the care of the foot of Charcot.

Observation: This is a 35 year old patient with type 1 diabetes, uncomplicated, from the age of 21 who presented to our emergency room for left foot edema evolving for two weeks. The clinical examination showed an edematous, hot, red and painless left foot. There is the absence of a wound or infection and the absence of general signs. The standard x-ray of the left foot was normal. Within the framework of the exploration of this localized edema, an MRI was requested objectifying an aspect related to a diabetic osteoarthropathy rather than an infectious osteoarthritis with involvement of the bone marrow of the metatarsals of the 2nd, 3rd and 5th rays as well as joint damage involving the metatarsophalangeal muscles of the 2nd and 5th rays without visible fracture or subperiosteal abscess.

The patient was referred to the physical medicine department for additional treatment, where he was provided with suitable shoes with a foot orthotic relief orthosis.

Conclusion: Our observation illustrates the value of early diagnosis of complications that may be associated with type 1 diabetes in order to allow rapid and effective management which will preserve the patient’s functional or even vital prognosis.