The Perpignan second row reportedly ruptured medial knee ligaments during his side’s Top 14 clash with Montpellier on Saturday.
No official diagnosis has been released by the Catalan giants but Charteris is expected to be sidelined for most of the season, ruling him out of Wales’ defence of their Grand Slam crown.
The 29-year-old former Newport Gwent Dragons star featured in three of Wales’ Dove Men Series internationals and now has 40 caps to his name.
He produced a series of stunning performances at the 2011 World Cup and was being tipped to earn selection for the Lions tour of Australia next summer.
Charteris joins fellow Welsh internationals Rhys Priestland, Alun Wyn Jones, Ian Evans, Dan Lydiate and Aaron Jarvis in experiencing a lengthy spell on the sidelines as Wales look for a repeat of their 2012 Six Nations success.
Second rows Jones and Evans are hoping to play some part in the Six Nations, as is blindside flanker Lydiate who was named player of the tournament last time out.
Veteran prop Adam Jones handed Wales a boost by returning from his own injury lay off in the Ospreys’ win over Toulouse just over a week ago but the man who replaced him in the autumn Tests, Jarvis, is out of action with a serious knee complaint.
Blues duo Jamie Roberts and Leigh Halfpenny are both currently unavailable but should be back in action a couple of weeks before the Six Nations opener against Ireland in Cardiff on February.
Front row forwards Ken Owens, Huw Bennett, Craig Mitchell and Rhodri Jones are also struggling with injury but Bradley Davies, Josh Turnbull and Aaron Shingler are back in action and Rob McCusker could feature for the Scarlets against the Ospreys on Boxing Day.
