Knee joint tabetic arthritis (neuropathy)
GC.5789
Wet specimen.
Knee joint, a left, laid open to show changes due to tabetic arthritis. From a female aged 55 years the subject of locomotor ataxia following acquired syphilis.
The synovial capsule is distended and with the articular capsule is greatly thickened. The bursa under the quadriceps femoris is obliterated by fibrinous adhesions undergoing organization into fibrous tissue. The synovial surface is irregular appears in places trabeculated and anteriorly has a nodular or papillary formation from villous changes in the infrapatellar pad of fat and from the lateral fold. The cartilage of encrustation on the femoral condyles and trochlea has been dechondrified in patches and replaced by fibrous tissue or leaves the bone exposed. The medial condyle of the tibia has been absorbed and the tibia is dislocated laterally. The articular surface of the lateral tibia condyle shows changes similar to those of the femoral condyles.
