Neurogenic arthropathy
Most common in men older than age 40, neurogenic arthropathy (Charcot’s arthropathy)
is a progressively degenerative disease of peripheral and axial joints, resulting from impaired sensory innervation. The loss of sensation in the joints causes progressive deterioration, resulting from unrecognized trauma (especially repeated minor episodes) or primary disease, which leads to laxity of supporting ligaments and eventual disintegration of the affected joints.
is a progressively degenerative disease of peripheral and axial joints, resulting from impaired sensory innervation. The loss of sensation in the joints causes progressive deterioration, resulting from unrecognized trauma (especially repeated minor episodes) or primary disease, which leads to laxity of supporting ligaments and eventual disintegration of the affected joints.
Causes
In adults, the most common cause of neurogenic arthropathy is diabetes mellitus. Other causes include tabes dorsalis (especially among patients ages 40 to 60), syringomyelia (which progresses to neurogenic arthropathy in about 25% of patients), myelopathy of pernicious anemia, spinal cord trauma, paraplegia, hereditary sensory neuropathy, and Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. Rarely, amyloidosis, peripheral nerve injury, myelomeningocele (in children), leprosy, or alcoholism causes neurogenic arthropathy.
Frequent intra-articular injections of a corticosteroid have also been linked to neurogenic arthropathy. The analgesic effect of the corticosteroid may mask symptoms and allow continuous damaging stress to accelerate joint destruction.
