J Korean Soc Spine Surg.  1997 Nov;4(2):344-349.

Spinal stenosis in Charcot spine of the lumbosacral area

• Jeong ST
• Ha YC
• Park YJ
• Song HR
• Cho SH
• Kim JS

Abstract

STUDY DESIGN: This case report presents a 50-year-old patient with tabetic Charcoal spinal arthropathy combined with spinal stenosis, and its management.
OBJECTIVES
To present the case report and follow-up results of Charcoal arthropathy with spinal stenosis of the lumbosacral spine, which was treated by circumferential fusion with instrumentation and decompressive laminectomy. LITERATURE REVIEW: Most reports of Charcot spine mention the etiology, clinical characteristics, pathology, and management of the condition. Surgical management of Chariot spines with spinal stenosis are rare. There is no report of the two-stage procedure of circumferential fusion and decom-pression for Charcot spine with spinal stenosis.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The patient complained of back pain, radiating pain to both lower legs, and 100m neurologic claudication. Serologic testing was positive in VDRL and FTA-ABS tests. Surgical treat-nent consisted of anterior resection of the L5 body with an autogenous iliad bone graft. It was followed by a posterior wide laminectomy of L5 for spinal stenosis, and CD instrumentation with transpedicular screws was applied to L3-S1 with lateral bone graft.
RESULTS
At 27 months follow-up, clinical symptoms of back pain and radiating pain were disappeared. The patient walked without claudication, and satisfied with her condition. Firm bony fusions from L3 to S1 were obtained. There was no evidence of further destruction or neural compromise in the 27 months following surgery.
CONCLUSION
A case of Charcoal arthropathy of the lumbosacral spine with spinal stenosis of L3-5 and L5-S1 has been reported, and the pathology, clinical features, and management of this condition were discussed. Circumferential fusion for Charcot spine and wide decompressive laminectomy for spinal stenosis are advisable.

MeSH Terms

Back Pain
Charcoal
Fluorescent Treponemal Antibody-Absorption Test
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Laminectomy
Leg
Middle Aged
Pathology
Pathology, Clinical
Serologic Tests
Spinal Stenosis*
Spine*
Transplants
Charcoal