Synovial rupture complicating Brucella arthritis

A patient with Brucella arthritis presented as 'pseudothrombophlebitis syndrome', with rupture of knee synovial membrane into the calf. Bacteriological identification of the same organism from the patient's blood, knee effusion and calf-swelling aspirate suggested the diagnosis, and ultrasonography of the calf swelling gave supportive evidence. Synovial rupture into the calf in infective arthritis is a rare occurrence and this has not been reported previously in Brucella arthritis.