Brodie's Disease
Historical document, translated for reference. It reflects medical knowledge of the 1920s–30s and is not medical advice.
Summary
Brodie's disease is a condition characterized by arthralgia and artro-neuralgia without organic changes in the joint and surrounding tissues, usually of psychogenic origin. The article also describes a symptom of psychogenic arthralgia that helps distinguish it from true conditions like coxitis.
Encyclopedia entry (1928–1936)
BRODIE'S DISEASE (Brodie), arthralgia, artro-neuralgia without organic changes in the joint and in the surrounding tissues, usually of psychogenic origin. Under Brodie's disease is also understood psychogenically arising after trauma (traumatic neuroses) neuralgic pains in the spine area, accompanied by kyphosis. - Brodie also described a symptom that characterizes hysterical, psychogenic arthralgia. The diagnosis of psychogenic arthralgia may present difficulties where such arthralgia is accompanied by contractures. In arthralgia of the hip joint, contractures can give the lower extremity a posture that completely imitates true coxitis. In such cases, the Brodie symptom has great significance: the soft tissues surrounding the joint are especially painful, and what is particularly important, even the skin: lifting the skin fold above the joint causes severe pain, which does not happen in true coxitis.
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Cite this page
“Brodie's Disease.” Soviet Medical Encyclopedia. English translation of Bolshaya Meditsinskaya Entsiklopediya, 1st ed. (Moscow, 1928–1936), ed. N. A. Semashko. https://sovietmedicalencyclopedia.pages.dev/article/brodie-disease/