Abstract

ABSTRACTCervical spinal cord injury compromises the ventilatory muscles and is associated with respiratory complications. Patients who are quadriplegics are also at increased risk of Charcot's arthropathy of the spine. The development of a large pleural effusion in quadriplegia further increases respiratory compromise. I present a case of Charcot's arthropathy of the spine causing a large pleural effusion that presented as respiratory distress in a quadriplegic. Pleurodesis was successful in preventing reaccumulation of the pleural effusion with a reduction in dyspnea.