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. 2015 Aug;8(4):255-9.
doi: 10.1177/1938640015585957. Epub 2015 May 8.

Midfoot Charcot Neuroarthropathy in Patients With Diabetes: The Impact of Foot Ulceration on Self-Reported Quality of Life

Katherine M Raspovic  1 , Kimberlee B Hobizal  1 , Bedda L Rosario  1 , Dane K Wukich  2
Affiliations

Midfoot Charcot Neuroarthropathy in Patients With Diabetes: The Impact of Foot Ulceration on Self-Reported Quality of Life

Katherine M Raspovic et al. Foot Ankle Spec. 2015 Aug.

Abstract

Introduction: Charcot neuroarthropathy (CN) and diabetic foot ulceration (DFU) are serious complications of diabetes mellitus (DM) that can result in infection, hospitalization, amputation, and have been shown to negatively affect quality of life (QOL). To the best of our knowledge, there are no studies in the literature that have specifically compared QOL in patients with diabetic CN without DFU to a group of patients with diabetic CN and concurrent DFU. The aim of this study was to compare self-reported assessments of QOL in patients with CN to a group of patients with CN and concomitant midfoot ulceration.

Materials and methods: We compared a group of 35 diabetic patients with midfoot CN and no ulcer to a group of 22 diabetic patients with midfoot CN and concurrent DFU. Self-reported outcome was assessed using the Medical Outcome Study Short Form 36 (SF-36) health survey and Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM).

Results: No significant differences were found when comparing the 2 groups utilizing the SF-36 and FAAM with the exception that CN patients without foot ulcers had lower mean scores on the Bodily Pain Subscale. Both groups demonstrated negative impact on physical QOL and lower extremity function to a greater degree than mental QOL.

Conclusion: The presence of ulceration does not appear to significantly impact QOL in patients with CN when compared to patients with CN without ulceration.

Levels of evidence: Prognostic, Level III: Case control.

Keywords: Charcot neuroarthropathy; SF-36; diabetic foot ulcer; quality of life.

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Conflict of interest statement

Authors’ Note

None of the authors declare any conflict of interest. The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: The project described was supported by the National Institutes of Health through Grant Number UL1TR000005.

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