Neuropathic Joints / 대한정형외과학회잡지

ABSTRACT

Neuropathic joint, which was originally described by Charcot in 1868, has been reported by many authors since that time. Charcot's joint is a feature of various conditions, such as syringmyelia, diabetes mellitus, congenital indifference to pain and leprosy, but it is mostly depended upon tertiary syphilis. In the past few decades. the occurance of this arthropathy however, seemed to decrease with the discovery of antibiotics and efficient control of syphilis in many countries. But syphilis has become popularized in recent years because of the rapid development of transportation and an offence against public deoency throughout the world. Authors experienced 3 cases of Charcots joint in Our Lady of Mercy Hospital, Catholic Medical College, two of them were tabetic, one diabetic in origin, which affected four knee joints, two ankle joints and one tarsometatarsal joint. The patients were treated conservatively without surgical intervention on the affected joints. One was lost for foIlow up after being discharged from the hospital against medical advice and the res two cases have been on follow up. This paper is auned to illustrate the importance of clinical aspects of neuropathic joints which seemed to be in the tendency of increase in recent years. in spite of development of efficient managements of the causative diseases.