Neuropathic spinal arthropathy

What it means

A progressive disorder of vertebral joint degeneration that occurs in the setting of any condition characterized by decreased afferent innervation, involving loss of deep pain and proprioceptive sensation in the vertebral column. Patients most commonly present with symptoms of lower back pain, sitting imbalance, progressive spinal deformity (usually kyphosis), and an audible clicking sound on changing postures.

Neuropathic spinal arthropathy presents almost exclusively in patients who have suffered traumatic spinal cord injury or less commonly, secondary to syringomyelia, meningocele, myelomeningocele, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathies, anesthetic leprosy, congenital analgesia, Parkinson's disease, arachnoiditis, transverse myelitis, and others.

Rare diseases that can present with this10

The range is how often this sign appears among people diagnosed with each disease — it is not a probability of having any of them. Many of these signs also occur in common, non-rare conditions. A sign on this page is a conversation to have with a clinician, not a conclusion.

Part of the broader category

Also called: Charcot spinal arthropathy · Spinal deformities · Spinal neuroarthropathy