1990 Volume 39 Issue 2 Pages 415-418
We report a case of tabetic arthropathy of the thoracic and lumbar spine with paraplegia and retention of urine. The patient is a 61-year-old man who underwent decompression of the spinal canal from L3-5 two times in 1982 and 1984. On admission in April 1989, the diagnosis was made by the characteristic X-ray findings of Th8, 9 and L3, 4, 5, Argyll Robertson pupils, absence of both ankle and knee jerks, loss of deep tendon sensation and blood Wassermann reaction. He had been treated with decompression of the spinal canal from Th8-9 and L3-5 in April, then 2 months later, because of instability of the lumbar spine, he was treated with anterior fusion from L3-4 and wiring.
