THE PATHOLOGY OF CHARCOT JOINTS

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Abstract
Neuro-arthropathy may affect any joint in the body Two conditions must obtain: a change in sensory nerves of, and trauma to, the joint. As long as existence of trophic nerves is unproved there is no reason to believe the condition due to anything but destruction that must follow in a joint without its protective sensory mechanism. When the bones are deprived of the accurate weight distributing power of the muscles and of the stabilizing protection afforded by an intact reflex nervous mechanism minor stresses will result in damage. So-called spontaneous fractures in tabetics are common for this reason. On this hypothesis neutropathic joints are simply changing pictures of destruction and erosion and nature''s attempt to stop the damage by sclerosis and repair the damage by building up new bone. The bizarre pictures are the result of the excessive rapidity of either process. Modifying terms, if any, should be those descriptive of the predominating process.

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