Solitary distal tibia tuberculosis in a child, effectively treated by chemotherapy following surgery: A case report

Skeletal tuberculosis is the great mimicker of lesions, usually manifesting in a non-specific image. Though it enters the differential diagnosis of every lesion in immature skeletal bones, it is commonly misdiagnosed. Early and correct diagnosis is crucial due to the distinct required treatment.

A 5-year-old male complained of vague pain in the ankle without any other specific or major systemic symptoms. A cystic lesion was found on a plain X-ray, which turned out to be osseous tuberculosis, and it was treated successfully and followed up for two years.

The primary method of treating appendicular skeletal tuberculosis is through lesional curettage and adjuvant chemotherapy without bone grafting. It is crucial to detect the disease early for a better prognosis. Unfortunately, it is often diagnosed late, and Conservative treatment is not always successful.

Tuberculosis should be considered for long bones lesions in children, and it can be successfully treated with surgery and chemotherapy.