Bilateral Charcot Neuroarthropathy in Pregnancy: A Case Report and Review of the Influence of Pregnancy Hormones on Ligament Laxity

Objective: To describe the case of a woman with long-standing poorly controlled type 1 diabetes mellitus who developed bilateral Charcot foot while pregnant. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of this condition in pregnancy.

Methods: We performed a retrospective review of physical paper medical records; electronically held laboratory results, including glycated hemoglobin; and imaging reports, including plain radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging.

Results: The Charcot feet were treated by standard offloading in total-contact casts or below-knee removable walking boots. As 1 side resolved, the patient was stepped down into normal footwear on one side and a below-knee walking boot on the other. A review of the literature suggests that the increase in ligamentous laxity associated with a rise in circulating hormones, such as relaxin, increases the risk of developing Charcot neuroarthropathy.

Conclusion: Bilateral concurrent Charcot neuroarthropathic foot is uncommon, and to our knowledge, this is the first reported case in pregnancy. We present a possible explanation for why there is an increased risk for the development of Charcot neuroarthropathy in pregnancy.