Charcot joint in idiopathic sensorimotor neuropathy.

Charcot joint or neuropathic arthropathy is described in certain neurological conditions. We report the case of a man who presented with a swollen ankle 10 days after a long walk, which rapidly progressed to a Charcot joint. A neurological examination revealed areflexia and insensitivity to temperature and pain. Electromyographic analysis showed a mixed sensorimotor polyneuropathy. Besides axonal loss and demyelinisation on sural nerve biopsy, prominent loss of unmyelinated fibres was demonstrated. Despite extensive investigations, no definite cause for this neuropathy could be found.