Tuberculosis of Ankle Joint: Case Series

Abstract

Despite the widespread awareness campaigns going on worldwide for elimination of tuberculosis, knowledge onunsual forms of tuberculosis still remains low. We need to realize that tuberculosis can present in any form andthus, a greater degree of suspicion is important always especially in countries with high tuberculosis prevalence.Although skeletal tuberculosis is being increasingly diagnosed and treated, still tuberculosis of the ankle joint isuncommon and often misdiagnosed as septic arthritis and thus leads to unnecessary delay in treatment. Sometimesanother focus of tuberculosis elsewhere in the body may be not found nor do the patients have any presumptivetuberculosis symptom. It is equally important to know that surgery alone might not help these patients. acombination of surgery and appropriate anti tubercular therapy is the right approach. So, a multidisciplinary roleand co operation of the surgeon as well as the physician is essential especially in cases of skeletal tuberculosis.Hence, it is imperative to know about tuberculosis irrespective of the system or anatomical structure involved.