Tabetic Arthropathy of the Hip

Abstract

The following report of a Charcot hip is submitted because the roentgenograms afford an opportunity of observing the progress of the disease from a very early stage up to the phase of complete disorganization of the joint. While this condition has been described frequently in the literature, very few roentgenograms have been presented showing the disease before extensive destruction has occurred. Ferguson (1) shows a film of a very early Charcot knee revealing some detritus in the joint and slight bony condensation. In the case described below no roentgenologically demonstrable destructive changes in the bone were present at the initial observation. G. B., a white female 57 years old, was admitted to Michael Reese Hospital, Chicago, on July 13, 1936. She stated that four weeks previously she had suddenly suffered a dizzy spell and had fallen, bruising her left thigh. Since this injury she had been unable to sustain her weight on the left leg, because of instability. The limb was painless. She had had tabe...