Objective: To measure prospectively bone mineral density (BMD) of the Charcot and non-Charcot foot in 36 diabetic patients presenting with acute Charcot osteoarthropathy.

Research Design and Methods: Calcaneal BMD was measured with quantitative ultrasound at presentation, at 3 months of casting and then at the time of the clinical resolution.

Results: BMD of the Charcot foot was significantly reduced compared with BMD of the non-Charcot foot at presentation (p=0.001), at 3 months of casting (p<0.001) and at the time of clinical resolution (p<0.001). Overall, from the time of presentation to the time of resolution there was a significant fall of BMD of the Charcot foot (p<0.001) but not of the non-Charcot foot (p=0.439).

Conclusions: Although the Charcot foot was treated with casting until clinical resolution, there was a significant fall of BMD only from presentation up until 3 months of casting.