title: [Syringomyelia and associated bone and joint diseases].
abstract: Syringomyelia can occur in patients presenting bone and joint diseases of various origins. When joint destruction of the shoulder or elbow produces little pain, a neurological cause might be involved. In this case, the disease history can be of utmost importance because an initial diagnosis of rheumatoid polyarthritis, polyosteoarthritis, or destructive joint disease can be misleading before the syringomyelic origin of the bone and joint disease becomes patent. We report two cases illustrating this association and the diagnostic pitfalls which can delay recognition of the syringomyelia. Better awareness of the prevalence of this condition should be helpful in establishing the diagnosis and in selecting patients who can benefit from neurosurgical treatment. The two cases presented here suggest that syringomyelia could be underdiagnosed in certain patients with an initially atypical presentation. A review of the current knowledge of syringomyelia suggests that arthroplasty is generally not advisable for destroyed dislocated syringomyelic joints.
authors.affiliation: Service de Chirurgie Orthopédique et Traumatologique, Département de Chirurgie du Membre Supérieur, Hôpital Bichat, 46, rue Henri-Huchard, 75877 Paris Cedex 18. jean-yves.alnot@bch.ap-hop-paris.fr
authors.forename: J-Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Alnot
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rossarie
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Welby
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000473:pathology; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis; D001847:Bone Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004551:Elbow Joint / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006617:Hip Dislocation / Q000175:diagnosis; D006621:Hip Joint / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000175:diagnosis; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D013595:Syringomyelia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014955:Wrist Joint / Q000473:pathology