Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 6, 2026

Detecting the Lyme Disease Spirochete, Borrelia Burgdorferi, in Ticks Using Nested PCR
07:20

Detecting the Lyme Disease Spirochete, Borrelia Burgdorferi, in Ticks Using Nested PCR

Published on: February 4, 2018

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Lyme Disease Manifestations in the Foot and Ankle: A Retrospective Case Series

Jason R Miller1, Karl W Dunn2, Domenick Braccia3

  • 1Fellowship Director, Pennsylvania Intensive Lower Extremity Fellowship, Premier Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, Malvern, PA.

The Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery : Official Publication of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons
|July 21, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Lyme disease can cause painful arthritis in the foot and ankle. This study reviewed 11 cases, highlighting this late-stage manifestation of Borrelia burgdorferi infection.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Rheumatology
  • Orthopedic Surgery

Background:

  • Lyme disease, caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, is a tick-borne illness.
  • A characteristic early symptom is erythema migrans.
  • Late-stage Lyme disease can manifest as Lyme arthritis, typically affecting large joints.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe painful arthritis in the foot and ankle as a manifestation of Lyme disease.
  • To highlight less commonly reported joint involvement in Lyme disease.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective case series.
  • Review of 11 cases with painful foot and ankle arthritis.
  • Confirmatory Lyme disease testing was performed.

Main Results:

  • All 11 cases presented with painful arthritis in the foot and ankle.
  • These cases represent a manifestation of late-stage Lyme disease.
  • Foot and ankle arthritis is a less common presentation compared to knee or ankle arthritis.

Conclusions:

  • Lyme disease can present with arthritis in the foot and ankle.
  • Clinicians should consider Lyme disease in patients with unexplained foot and ankle arthritis.
  • Further research may elucidate the mechanisms and prevalence of Lyme-related foot and ankle arthritis.
Keywords:
Borreliaarthritisinfectionlower extremityspirochete

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