PATHOLOGIC FRACTURE DUE TO SYPHILIS

Abstract

Dermatologists are increasingly appreciative of visceral This report demonstrates some unusual manifestations in syphilis of the bones and viscera. Syphilis has long been recognized as a cause of pathologic fracture. Such fractures, however, are becoming increasingly less common. The older writers emphasized syphilis, and the more recent ones have mentioned it in considering the causes of pathologic fracture. Thus Hazen 1 stated: Fractures as a result of bone destruction are frequently seen and are so frequent as to arouse always in such cases the suspicion of syphilis. Fragenheim 2 devoted considerable discussion to syphilitic fracture and Boyd 3 admitted the possibility of such phenomena. Eliason, 4 in reviewing pathologic fractures of various causes, cited Speed as stating that large numbers of spontaneous fractures due to syphilis are seen each year at the Cook County Hospital. From what follows this citation, however, it seems probable that most of these fractures