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Charcot Spinal Arthropathy Secondary to Spinal Cord Injury - A Case Report
Jeff J Cherian1, Jacqueline C Ma1, Fanny E Morón1
1Department of Radiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States.
Journal of Orthopaedic Case Reports
|March 17, 2025
Summary
Charcot spine, a destructive vertebral condition, presents diagnostic challenges, especially in spinal cord injury patients. This case highlights the need for further research into surgical outcomes and disease progression.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Radiology
Background:
- Charcot spinal neuroarthropathy is a destructive vertebral disease often associated with spinal cord injuries.
- Diagnosis is challenging due to non-specific symptoms and imaging findings, and delayed presentation of neurological deficits.
Observation:
- A 47-year-old female with a spinal cord injury developed Charcot spine at T11-T12, treated with spinal fusion.
- Two years later, she presented with recurrent symptoms and a new Charcot spine at L3-L4, requiring further surgical intervention.
Findings:
- Charcot spinal arthropathy requires diagnosis of exclusion based on clinical, histopathologic, and radiologic data.
- This case contributes to limited reports on long-term surgical outcomes for Charcot spine.
Implications:
- Further investigation is needed to understand the relationship between spinal fusion and vertebral joint destruction in Charcot spine.
- This research may inform future management guidelines for this complex condition.
