5-Neuropathic Arthropathy

Question 1

What are the general/ clinical features of Neuropathic Arthropathy?
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pg 1001 text

Answer 1

Destructive articular disease that occurs secondarily to a a loss or impairment in joint proprioception. So involved joint undergoes degenerative changes leading to severe destruction

I. General/Clinical Features
− Etiology includes diabetes, syphilis, syringomyelia, alcoholism
− 5% of diabetics have involvement in the ankle/feet
− 20% of syphilis patients have involvement of the lumbar spine, knee, ankle − 25% of patients with syringomyelia have involvement in the upper extremity − “Bag of Bones”, painless, enlarged
− Weeks/months/years onset/duration

Question 2

What radiographic features will you find in Neurotrophic Arthropathy?
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Answer 2

a) Hypertrophic Findings
- distention
- disorganisation
- dislocation
- density increased
- debris
- destruction

b) Atrophic Pattern
- lack of hypertrophic features
- sharp amputation of articular ends
- tapered or ‘licked candy stick’ appearance
- non-weight bearing joints