Syringomyelia with Charcot arthropathy: A case report

Abstract

Background: Syringomyelia with Charcot arthropathy mainly manifests as skin redness and swelling, local swelling of the joints, paresthesia, joint deformity, and dislocation leading to limited movement, often involving the cervicothoracic spinal cord and shoulder and elbow joints. Furthermore, cases of Charcot arthropathy are rare. In this report, we present the case of a patient with Charcot arthropathy combined with syringomyelia diagnosed at our hospital. Methods: The patient was a 42-year-old woman admitted to our hospital with a chief complaint of left elbow swelling lasting for over 20 years, aggravated by limitations of movement for 2 years. The patient completed relevant imaging examination and biopsy for definitive diagnosis. Results: Imaging studies led to a suspicion of Charcot arthropathy. Plain radiography and magnetic resonance imaging of the left elbow joint indicated deformity of the joint, with surrounding bone loss and soft tissue swelling. Cervical magnetic resonance imaging indicated syringomyelia between the C5 and T5 levels. The pathological results were consistent with the pathological changes of Charcot arthropathy. Conclusions: In clinical work, when a painless joint injury is revealed and the degree of joint disease is extremely disproportionate to the patient’s symptoms, medical workers should consider the possibility of Charcot arthropathy. After carefully performing joint examination, a neurological function examination should be performed as soon as possible, followed by the identification of the cause and intervention, which will improve the quality of life of patients and reduce disability.