Case: Three patients aged 29, 30, and 38 with diabetes mellitus presented with medial tibial plateau fractures after the insidious onset of knee pain. All were treated with open reduction and internal fixation that failed early and required revision surgery. None were initially diagnosed with a neuropathic knee. In retrospect, the clinical scenario and fracture patterns were similar and should raise suspicion for charcot arthropathy. Conclusion: Atraumatic pain with a progressive deformity and fragmentation of the medial plateau are concerning for Charcot knee. Correct diagnosis is crucial to develop an appropriate treatment plan.
Boyapati et al. (Thu,) studied this question.