Tuberculosis of the ankle: report of four cases

Tuberculosis of the ankle joint is relatively uncommon, and the treatment usually includes chemotherapy, immobilization and non-weight bearing protection. It is easily confused with pyogenic arthritis, which often leads to delayed diagnosis. We reviewed the records of 4 patients with ankle tuberculosis with advanced articular lesions without evidence of pulmonary tuberculosis. They took antituberculous agents for 5 to 6 months. Two of them had positive bacterial cultures, and all four had initially received surgical management under the impression of pyogenic osteomyelitis. Two patients underwent arthrodesis and the other two synovectomy with debridement. The clinical and radiologic results were better in the patients who underwent arthrodesis. We consider surgery with open biopsy of a painful swelling ankle to be helpful in the differential diagnosis of tuberculous and pyogenic arthritis. Arthrodesis in patients with severe osteoarticular destruction of the ankle provides a better prognosis and more stable joint than other treatment methods.