The role of circular fixation in the treatment of Charcot foot

Charcot neuroarthropathy of the foot and ankle is a challenging clinical dilemma. No clear consensus exists regarding the timing of surgical intervention or the method of treatment. Over the last decade, circular ring fixation has gained favor in the treatment of the Charcot foot. Review of the literature reveals that most series report favorable results and low amputation rates. This is based largely on retrospective case series and not prospective randomized control trials. Circular fixators also have inherent complications such as pin breakage and infection. The use of circular ring fixation, however, is a useful method in the surgical management of selected patients with Charcot neuroarthropathy.