The Charcot Spine Arthropathy (CSA): ARare Case Report

Abstract

Charcot Spine Arthropathy (CSA) is a form of degenerative disease affecting vertebra of lumbar
and thoraco-lumbar region. It is commonly seen after injury to the spinal cord or in patients
with traumatic paraplegia. It was first described by Kronig in 1884.
Case Report- A 35year old male patient presented to our outpatient clinic with complaint of
difficulty in changing his position while sitting, lying down, and sitting on a wheel chair. In 2014,
he had sustained injury to his spinal cord with bowel and bladder involvement with ASIA-A
grade neurology for which long segment fixation was performed from D7-D10 level and the
patient was wheel chair bound after surgery. In the present case scenario, the patient was
managed conservatively with bed rest, immobilization and medications for pain relief as stated
in the existing literature.
Conclusion- CSA is a disease of surgical origin commonly seen in patients with spinal cord injury
in the past. Although surgery in the form of circumferential arthrodesis is the treatment of
choice in most of cases, it is reserved for cases with instability, as it is associated with
complications like infections and hardware failure.