Use of Platelet-Rich Concentrate and Bone Marrow Aspirate in High-Risk Patients with Charcot Arthropathy of the Foot

Background: Diabetic patients with Charcot arthropathy of the foot are at high risk for nonunion when undergoing arthrodesis. There is increasing evidence that cytokines identified in platelet rich concentrate and bone marrow aspirate may show equivalence to autologous bone graft in supporting arthrodesis. Materials and Methods: Prospectively, 44 high-risk diabetic patients with Charcot foot arthropathy underwent surgical correction of 46 feet through a limited surgical approach. The average age of the patients was 54.9 +/- 10.4 years. Their mean BMI was 38.0 +/- 9.7. Twenty-four were male and 20 were female. Twenty-eight had open wounds with chronic draining osteomyelitis. Surgical correction was maintained postoperatively with static circular ring fixation. At the time of wound closure, all of the patients had injection of autologous platelet rich concentrate and bone marrow aspirate. Results: Forty-two of the 46 feet had radiographic evidence of bony union at 26.2 +/- 12.2 months following surgery. One patient died of unrelated causes. Two underwent amputation for persistent infection. Six had recurrent ulcers which resolved with local treatment. One patient required a fifth ray resection for gangrene following surgery. There were three tibial stress fractures, with two requiring intramedullary nailing to achieve union. Conclusions: Plateletrich concentrate, when combined with a small amount of autologous bone marrow aspirate, may well be as effective as autologous bone grafting when performing arthrodesis of high risk diabetic patients with Charcot foot arthropathy.