Imagerie ostéo-articulaire du pied diabétique

Destruction in diabetic feet is secondary to neuropathy (peripheral and autonomic nervous system) in association with microangiopathy. The loss of sensation to pain and the static trouble lead to increase the pressure in some areas and predispose to pedal skin ulceration, the precursor of osteomyelitis. Plain radiography should be the first step in the evaluation for diagnosis and follow-up. The initial patterns are nonspecific but very rapid evolution associating osteolysis, osteosclerosis and fragmentation lead to the Charcot foot. When osteomyelitis is suspected, scintigraphy with labelled white blood cells and MRI are necessary to differentiate infection from neuropathy.