Constrained Condylar Prostheses for the Treatment of Charcot Arthropathy: A Case Report and Literature Review

BACKGROUND: Neuroarthropathy of the knee or Charcot knee, leading to chronic joint destruction, is a rare disease that is difficult to diagnose. The treatment of this condition is difficult and controversial. CASE PRESENTATION: A 74-year-old Asian woman has had bilateral knee pain for 22 years and deformity for 10 years, which has been aggravating for 2 months. Physical examination showed bilateral knee varus deformity greater than 15°, and -20 to 90° range of motion. X-ray revealed bilateral varus deformity with massive free body hyperplasia. Combined with medical history as syringomyelia, the patient was diagnosed with bilateral Charcot knees and bilateral joint replacements were performed using Legacy Constrained Condylar Knee prostheses (LCCK; Zimmer, USA). The patient reported satisfactory treatment outcomes, pain relief, and improved range of motion in both knees, without postoperative complications or prosthesis loosening at 2 year after operation. CONCLUSIONS: Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) may be considered a viable option for treating the Charcot knee. The use of constrained condylar prostheses can produce satisfactory results. Attention should be given to survival risks, complications, and other potential determining factors associated with TKA when devising a treatment strategy for the Charcot knee.