Charcot Joint Mnemonic – The 6 D’s of a Charcot Joint

This mnemonic has been used commonly to recall the features of Charcot Joints (sometimes it is referred to as 5 Ds instead of 6 Ds because dislocation and disorganization are combined):

1. Distended
2. Disorganized
3. Dislocated
4. Debris (intraarticular bodies, which can be seen with synovial osteochondramotosis)
5. increased Density (sclerosis)
6. Destruction

See a nice case example of a shoulder Charcot joint here.