Which two joints are most often affected by Charcot disease?

In Charcot disease, which is a progressive condition characterized by the degeneration of bones and joints, the most commonly affected joints are indeed the tarsometatarsal and metatarsophalangeal joints. This condition is often seen in individuals with peripheral neuropathy, where loss of sensation leads to undetected trauma and subsequent joint damage.

The tarsometatarsal joints, located between the tarsal bones and the metatarsal bones, are particularly vulnerable due to their role in weight-bearing and the mechanical stress they endure during movement. Similarly, the metatarsophalangeal joints, which connect the metatarsals to the proximal phalanges of the toes, are also subjected to significant forces during walking and standing.

This combination of high mechanical stress and lack of proprioceptive feedback in Charcot disease patients contributes to the rapid degeneration of these joints. The other joints listed, while they may be involved in different types of joint diseases or conditions, are not characteristic of Charcot disease in the same way the tarsometatarsal and metatarsophalangeal joints are.