The causes of Charcot joint gradually has grown since Charcot's original description of syphilitic neuropathic joint disease in 1868. Recently, diabetic mellitus is the commonest condition associated with neuropathic bone and joint disease. But trauma can precipitate the development of the typical neuropathic Charcot joint. It has been suggested that the altered mechanics of walking throws an abnormal stress on the sensory deprived joint so that arthropathy develops. This paper is reporting a case of developed idiopathic Charcot-like arthropathy in both knee and elbow joints. Intra-articular steroid injection and repeated trauma caused the patient to develop idiopathic Charcot-like arthropathy. The purpose of this paper is to emphasize that early recognition and conservative treatment may alter the course of certain neuropathic joints. (J Korean Acad Rehab Med 2003; 27: 280-284)

Neuropathic arthropathy is a chronic and progressive disease of bone and joints. One of the most common causes of neuropathic arthropathy is syringomyelia. Syringomyelia associated with Arnold-Chiari I malformation has been well documented in many reports. We report a case of 76 year-old woman presented with the right elbow joint pain and stiffness. Her symptom was caused by neuropathic arthropathy associated with Arnold-Chiari I malformation and syringomyelia. The purpose of this paper is to emphasize that neuropathic arthropathy requires the evaluation of central nervous system to assess for occult causal lesion. (J Korean Acad Rehab Med 2007; 31: 252-256)