Polyarticular charcot: A rare case report and a literature review in Indian context

Charcot or neuropathic arthropathies are a progressive form of destructive, erosive and generally painless arthropathies.Prevalence of neuropathic joints has decreased globally with reduction in the cases of leprosy and syphilis. However,syringomyelia and diabetes mellitus have emerged as the major causes for upper limb and lower limb Charcot jointsrespectively. Literature evidence shows lack of India data pertaining to these arthropathies. The present study describesa case of polyarticular Charcot in a patient with syrinx and Chiari malformation. The patient history revealed a provisionaldiagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis and Koch’s elbow, and was treated with anti-tubercular treatment (ATT) and diseasemodifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDS). Nervous system examination would have easily led to the diagnosis ofsyringomyelia. The present study also provides a review of Indian literature on neuropathic joints from 2001 to 2019.Diabetes mellitus, syringomyelia, leprosy and syphilis are major etiologies for Charcot joints.