The authors describe the case of a 65-year-old woman who developped a
sudden and painless palsy of right shoulder one month after a benign f
all. Radiographs showed severe articular destruction. Neurologic exami
nation revealed only a mild sensory loss of the right upper extremity.
A diagnosis of syringomyelia was evoked and confirmed by spinal MRI.
An upper extremity neuroarthropathy is usually caused by syringomyelia
and is sometimes the first and leading symptom of this disease. Senso
ry neuropathy explains the incidence of this often painless osteoarthr
opathy. Treatment with bisphosphonate is discussed.