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Complex Charcot Spine Reconstruction in a Young Paraplegic Patient: A Case Report.
Tyler Krall1, Jacob A Saunders1, Isabel L Bauer2
1Neurological Surgery, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Phoenix, USA.
Cureus
|June 26, 2026
Summary
Spinal Charcot arthropathy (SCA) is a rare condition causing joint destruction after spinal cord injury (SCI). This case shows successful surgical stabilization in a young paraplegic patient with severe thoracic SCA.
Area of Science:
- Neurosurgery
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Spinal Disorders
Background:
- Spinal Charcot arthropathy (SCA) is a destructive neurogenic joint disorder, often linked to spinal cord injury (SCI).
- It results from autonomic dysregulation, bone resorption, and proprioceptive loss, leading to joint destruction and instability.
- Diagnosis can be delayed due to insidious symptom onset, including deformity, instability, or autonomic dysreflexia (AD).
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