J Korean Neurosurg Soc.  2013 Dec;54(6):537-539. 10.3340/jkns.2013.54.6.537.

Charcot Arthropathy of the Lumbosacral Spine Mimicking a Vertebral Tumor after Spinal Cord Injury

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Neurosurgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. sobotta72@hotmail.com
  • 2School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract

Charcot spinal arthropathy is a rare, progressive type of vertebral joint degeneration that occurs in the setting of any preexisting condition characterized by decreased afferent innervation to the extent that normal protective joint sensation in the vertebral column is impaired. The authors report on a case of Charcot arthropathy of the lower lumbar spine mimicking a spinal tumor following cervical cord injury.

Keyword

Charcot arthropathy; Spinal cord injury; Sacrum

MeSH Terms

Joints
Preexisting Condition Coverage
Sacrum
Sensation
Spinal Cord Injuries*
Spinal Cord*
Spine*

Figure

  • Fig. 1 A sagittal T2-weighted magnetic resonance image of the neck show traumatic destruction of spinal cord at C4-C6.

  • Fig. 2 Plain Lateral radiographs showing bony destruction of the L5 and S1 vertebral bodies.

  • Fig. 3 A three dimensional CT image of the pelvis showing extensive resorption and the bone formation phenomenon with ensheathing hyperostosis at L5 to S1.

  • Fig. 4 Sagittal T2 (A) and T1-weighted (B) and enhanced (C) MR image showing bone meltdown at L5 to S1.


Reference

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