[Tuberculous osteoarthritis of the foot in the diabetic: not unrecognize this diagnostic trap. About one case]

Concurrence of Tuberculosis and Other Major Diseases

The chronic respiratory disease of tuberculosis (TB) has become one of the most significant infectious diseases because of its high mortality. It also results in serious social and economic problems that challenge global public health. Anti-TB treatment has achieved satisfactory results; however, concurrence with other diseases such as diabetes, silicosis, malnutrition, or immunosuppressive therapy can significantly interfere with the treatment of TB. Though irregular treatment is the overriding cause of treatment failure, drug-resistant TB or severe TB and complications are also significant factors. Respiratory tract infection and respiratory failure are the leading cause of death for TB.

Cutaneous and Skeletal Simultaneous Locations as a Rare Clinical Presentation of Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis is a resurgent disease in most regions of the world, infecting one-third of the world's population and having a multisystemic involvement. Incidence of extra-pulmonary tuberculosis has increased in the last few decades as a result of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection. The authors report a clinical case of the rare concomitant cutaneous and skeletal tuberculosis in an immunocompetent patient transferred from endemic area.

[Tarsal osteoarthritis: a rare localisation of tuberculosis]

We report the case of a 39-year-old woman with an uneventful medical history who presented an inflammatory left foot with no notion of trauma or fever. The plain x-ray and magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated talonavicular and subtalar osteoarthritis. A surgical biopsy with excision of inflammatory and necrotic tissue and removal of a fistular tract was performed. Histology revealed the presence of granulomas with caseous central necrosis suggesting tuberculosis of the bone. The diagnosis was confirmed when bacteriology samples grew Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Antituberculosis drugs were administered for twelve months. At 24 months, the patient presents a painful stiff rear foot after the development of secondary talonavicular degeneration. This case illustrates a particular clinical presentation of tuberculosis. This diagnosis should be considered in the presence of atypical bony lesions with a chronic course. Early diagnosis enables proper therapeutic management. Useful diagnostic imaging techniques include plain x-rays, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging. Certain diagnosis is based on bacteriological and histological examinations.