Neuropathic arthropathy of the elbow: a report of two cases

Neuropathic arthropathy (charcot joint) of the elbow is a rare condition. It is among the least frequently reported charcot pathology of the joint. The clinical symptoms are characterized by a painless and unstable joint. Infection in the neuropathic joint is rare. Only a limited number of cases have been reported in the literature. The authors present two cases of neuropathic arthropathy of the elbow. One of them was diagnosed as Septic neuropathic arthropathy.

Two patients with neuropathic arthropathy of the elbow (an infected and a noninfected case) were treated at our department. Both patients were over 60 years old. The underlying conditions associated with the arthropathy included combined median and ulnar neuropathy in the infected case and idiopathic in the non-infected case. Both of the patients had a history of specific trauma at the affected elbows. The radiographs of the elbows revealed dislocation, fracture fragmentation and some bony sclerosis. The management in the non-infected case aimed to maintain the function of the elbow with a short period of immobilization and physical therapy. For the infected case, the patient was treated successfully with systemic antibiotic, surgical debridement and a period of immobilization with an external fixator

The patients were followed-up for approximately 9 months for the non-infected and 2 years for the infected case. Both of them had painless and functional range of motion of the elbows in the most recent follow-up examination. For the infected case, the surgical incision healed well and there was no recurrent discharge from that affected elbow.

In the first case, with neuropathic arthropathy of the elbow, the investigations were made to find the underlying disease. The second case with septic neuropathic joint, systemic antibiotic, surgical debridement and appropriate immobilization were needed. With gross instability and marked distortion of the joint, the elbow of both patients functioned remarkably well.