Charcot's Joints
Authors: W. P. BEETHAM
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1963)

Case Studies1 June 1963Charcot's JointsA Case of Extensive Polyarticular Involvement, and Discussion of Certain Clinical and Pathologic FeaturesW. P. BEETHAM JR., M.D., R. L. KAYE, M.D., H. F. POLLEY, M.D.W. P. BEETHAM JR., M.D.Search for more papers by this author, R. L. KAYE, M.D.Search for more papers by this author, H. F. POLLEY, M.D.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-58-6-1002 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptCharcot's classic description of clinical, anatomic, and pathologic changes in various joints associated with locomotor ataxia (tabes dorsalis) was published in 1868 (1), and to this day, his name and description remain identified with neuropathic joint disease. Arthropathy of the type described by Charcot has also been associated with various other conditions, but is most often attributed to either tabes (2, 3) or diabetes mellitus (4, 5). Other reported instances of neuropathic arthropathy have been attributed to syringomyelia (2, 6), injury to nerve roots (7), degenerative changes in the spinal cord due to pernicious anemia (8), spina bifida (9), congenital...References1. CHARCOT JM: Sur quelques arthropathies qui paraissent dépendre d'une lésion du cerveau ou de la moelle épinière. Arch. Physiol. Norm. Path. 1: 161, 1868. Google Scholar2. WILEBUTLER UJMG: A critical survey of Charcot's arthropathy: analysis of eighty-eight cases. JAMA 94: 1053, 1930. CrossrefGoogle Scholar3. STEINDLER A: The tabetic arthropathies. JAMA 96: 250, 1931. CrossrefGoogle Scholar4. JOSLINROOTWHITEMARBLE EPHFPA: The Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus, 10th ed., Lea & Febiger, Philadelphia, 1959, pp. 499-500. Google Scholar5. SHEPPE WM: Neuropathic (Charcot) joints occurring in diabetes mellitus. Diabetes 8: 192, 1959. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar6. SKALL-JENSEN J: Osteoarthropathy in syringomyelia: analysis of seven cases. Acta Radiol. (Stockholm) 38: 382, 1952. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar7. KERNWEINLYON GWF: Neuropathic arthropathy of the ankle joint resulting from complete severance of the sciatic nerve. Ann. Surg. 115: 267, 1942. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar8. HALONENJÄRVINEN PIKA: On the occurrence of neuropathic arthropathies in pernicious anaemia. Ann. Rheum. Dis. 7: 152, 1948. CrossrefGoogle Scholar9. CARR TL: The orthopaedic aspects of one hundred cases of spina bifida. Postgrad. Med. 32: 201, 1956. CrossrefGoogle Scholar10. SILVERMANGILDEN FNJJ: Congenital insensitivity to pain: a neurologic syndrome with bizarre skeletal lesions. Radiology 72: 176, 1959. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar11. PATERSON DE: Radiological bone changes and angiographic findings in leprosy with special reference to the pathogenesis of 'atrophic' conditions of the digits. J. Fac. Radiol. 7: 35, 1955. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar12. CHANDLERWRIGHT GNV: Deleterious effect of intra-articular hydrocortisone. Lancet 2: 661, 1958. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar13. PILS AR: Neurotrophic Joints: a Clinical and Pathological Study. Thesis, Graduate School, University of Minnesota, 1948. Google Scholar14. PELTIERCHRISTIAN ACL: The presence of the 'rheumatoid factor' in sera from patients with syphilis. Arthritis Rheum. 2: 1, 1959. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar15. STEINDLERWILLIAMSPUIG-GURI ALAJ: Tabetic arthropathies. Urol. Cutan. Rev. 46: 633, 1942. Google Scholar16. ROPESBAUER MWW in Synovial Fluid Changes in Joint Disease, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1953. Google Scholar17. HERNDON RF: Three cases of tabetic Charcot's spine. J. Bone Joint Surg. n.s. 9: 605, 1927. Google Scholar18. HOLLANDER JL: Arthritis and Allied Conditions: A Textbook of Rheumatology, 6th ed., Lea & Febiger, Philadelphia, 1960, pp. 1047-1054. Google Scholar19. KEY JA: Clinical observations on tabetic arthropathies (Charcot joints). Amer. J. Syph. 16: 429, 1932. Google Scholar20. THOMAS DF: Vertebral osteoarthropathy or Charcot's disease of the spine. J. Bone Joint Surg. 34B: 248, 1952. CrossrefGoogle Scholar21. DELANO PJ: The pathogenesis of Charcot's joint. Amer. J. Roentgen. 56: 189, 1946. Google Scholar22. KING EJ: On some aspects of the pathology of hypertrophic Charcot's joints. Brit. J. Surg. 18: 113, 1930. CrossrefGoogle Scholar23. ELOESSER L: On the nature of neuropathic affections of the joints. Ann. Surg. 66: 201, 1917. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar24. FLOYDLOVELLKING WWRE: The neuropathic joint. Southern Med. J. 52: 563, 1959. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar25. POTTS WJ: The pathology of Charcot joints. Ann. Surg. 86: 596, 1927. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: Rochester, MinnesotaRequests for reprints should be addressed to Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byNeuropathic ArthropathyA Patient With Multifocal Tabetic ArthropathyNeurotrophic ArthritisNeuropathic Arthropathy of the ElbowPseudoseptic arthritis: an unusual presentation of neuropathic arthropathy.Multiple neuropathic arthropathy in a patient with syphilisMusculoskeletal Complaints in the Elderly 1 June 1963Volume 58, Issue 6Page: 1002-1012KeywordsAmyotrophic lateral sclerosisAtaxiaDiabetes mellitusNervesPernicious anemiaSpinal cord Issue Published: 1 June 1963 PDF downloadLoading ...