Charcot neuroarthropathy versus osteomyelitis: a case series.

INTRODUCTION: Patients with diabetes and peripheral neuropathy have a 25% risk of developing a foot ulcer, and these can lead to soft tissue infections that worsen and result in osteomyelitis. While Charcot neuroarthropathy is not as common as osteomyelitis, it is often misdiagnosed as osteomyelitis. CASE REPORTS: Three patients presented with diabetes, neuropathy, and foot ulcers. They underwent prophylactic surgery but later developed swelling at the surgical sites. Radiographs showed fragmentations that caused concern about osteomyelitis. The authors maintained diagnoses of Charcot neuroarthropathy and treated the patients with immobilization and offloading. All patients resolved the fragmentations without antibiotics or surgery. CONCLUSION: While Charcot neuroarthropathy and osteomyelitis have similar signs and symptoms, understanding the similarities and differences between the conditions can aid providers in appropriate wound management.

Epithelioid angiosarcoma of the talus.

Sarcoma is a rare cancer that can be found anywhere in the body. Approximately 1% of all adult cancers are sarcoma, and angiosarcomas account for approximately 1% to 2% of all sarcomas. Although rare, when clinical and radiographic changes suggestive of neoplasm are seen in the lower extremities, and if metastasis is suspected, angiosarcoma should be among the differential diagnosis. In this report, we describe the case of an elderly woman who presented with epithelioid angiosarcoma of the talus. Although the patient became aware of the sarcoma only after pain developed after minor trauma to her foot, evaluation of the injury revealed the presence of metastatic disease, and the patient succumbed to the cancer shortly after the diagnosis was made.