Corticosteroids as a cause of Catastrophic Rheumatoid Arthritis

A 71-year-old woman has been using corticosteroids since the age of 25. After a fall, she developed multiple compression fractures of the spine. Despite the obvious bone deformities during the physical examination in upper limbs, she denied any pain. Radiologic and a CT-scan evaluation revealed catastrophic lesions with a completely destroyed joint and many intra-articular free bodies. Long-term corticosteroid use can bring on catastrophic results in bone structures and patients must be properly informed regarding the side effects.