Charcot joint is the swelling of joints due to progressive deteriorating disease. It is caused due to hemorrhage or infection on the joints. Charcot joint disease is also called as neurogenic arthropathy. The joints get affected due to underlying neurologic disorder like diabetes, leprosy which may damage the nerve endings. The affected person may not have any pain on the joint initially due to numbness caused by nerve damage.
It was Dr. Jean Marie Charcot from France who discovered this disease in patients with syphilis in the year 1868. Hence the name Charcot is given for this disorder.
Symptoms :
The joints that are cut off from nerve supply are seriously affected. The consistent nerve damage can have impact on the bones, cartilages and tissues. The bones of the affected area may get distorted and the cartilages move from its position causing more damage. This disease affects the knee joint or ankle joint predominantly.
The affected joint will become swollen and unstable causing nerve damage and loss of sensation.
Initially there may not be any pain except swelling of joints due to inflammation. Diabetic patients are more prone to this disease than others and it is better to monitor any changes in their joints and foot area.
Causes :
Diabetic neuropathy is the main cause for Charcot joint disease. It is caused by increased blood sugar which would deactivate the nerve endings of the joint.
Some of the other factors that cause this disease are syphilis infection, leprosy, alcoholic neuropathy, cerebral palsy, spinal cord problems and kidney disease.
Often it affects both the feet in men and women. About 60-70% of the people diagnosed with Charcot joint are diabetic. Aged people are more risky for getting this problem due to diabetics.