# Rotating Hinge Knee Arthroplasty for Charcot Joints of the Knees in Patients With Charcot–Marie–Tooth Disease: A Report of Two Cases

## TL;DR

This paper presents two cases where rotating hinge knee surgery successfully treated knee instability caused by Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.

## Contribution

The study demonstrates the effectiveness of RHK arthroplasty for treating Charcot joints in CMT patients.

## Key findings

- RHK arthroplasty resolved knee instability in a 74-year-old CMT patient five years post-surgery.
- A 90-year-old CMT patient showed improved mobility one year after RHK arthroplasty.
- RHK arthroplasty is a viable treatment for knee Charcot joints in CMT patients.

## Abstract

We report two cases wherein rotating hinge knee (RHK) arthroplasty was performed for Charcot joints that developed secondary to Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT).

Case 1 was of a 74-year-old woman with CMT. She presented with muscle weakness and sensory disturbances of the distal lower limbs, deformity, and significant medial instability of the bilateral knees. She was then diagnosed with Charcot joints of the knees secondary to CMT, which were treated with RHK arthroplasty. Five years postoperatively, there was no instability, and she was able to stand unassisted without pain. Case 2 was a 90-year-old woman with CMT who presented with muscle weakness and sensory disturbances of the distal lower limbs, deformity, and significant medial instability of the bilateral knees. She was then diagnosed with Charcot joints of the knees secondary to CMT, which were also treated with RHK arthroplasty. One year postoperatively, there was no instability, and she was able to walk smoothly using a walker. These clinical cases indicate that RHK arthroplasty can be a good therapeutic option for Charcot joints of the knees in patients with CMT.