A 49-Year-Old Man with Fever, Erythema Nodosum, and Ankle Swelling. Final Diagnosis: Extrapulmonary tuberculosis with hepatic and bone marrow involvement

Arthroscopic Ankle Arthrodesis for End-Stage Tuberculosis of the Ankle: A 2-Year Follow-Up

Surgical treatment for end-stage ankle joint tuberculosis (TB) has rarely been reported. This study followed cases treated by arthroscopic arthrodesis for ankle joint TB to evaluate its efficacy and safety in the clinic. Patients who underwent arthroscopic ankle arthrodesis for ankle joint TB between April 11, 2010, and December 31, 2016, were followed. Their diagnoses were confirmed by bacterial culture or pathological examination. During arthroscopy, tissue samples were first obtained to further confirm the diagnosis. Then the necrotic tissue, hyperplasia of synovial tissue, and exfoliated cartilage were removed. Ankle joint arthrodesis was performed if the area of articular cartilage damage was >2 cm². Continued nutritional support and standardized anti-TB drug treatment were given after surgery. Follow-up measurements included visual analogue scale score, American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society score, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and radiographic imaging. All 9 patients in this study, with an average age of 54 (range 37 to 68) years, were followed. The mean follow-up duration was 55.44 ± 31.15 (range 24 to 96) months. There were significant differences in the visual analogue scale scores, American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society scores, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate between before treatment and 18 months postoperatively (p < .05). All patients (100%) showed union at 18 ± 4 weeks. Arthroscopic treatment for ankle joint TB has the advantages of minor trauma and low complications. It can be used to accurately obtain samples from specific areas of TB for further diagnosis. According to the degree of articular cartilage damage, the surgeon can determine whether to perform arthrodesis. Thorough debridement of necrotic tissue and residual articular cartilage on the fusion surface can improve the rate of ankle fusion.

Arthroscopic management for early-stage tuberculosis of the ankle

Background

Due to atypical clinical presentation, wide use of antibiotics, and lack of specificity in diagnosis, diagnosis of tubercular (TB) infection in joints is increasingly difficult, and misdiagnosis is common. The use of arthroscopy for the diagnosis and treatment of early-stage ankle TB has rarely been reported. This case series intended to present the clinical outcomes of arthroscopic management for early-stage ankle TB.

Methods

Fifteen patients with chronic synovitis of the ankle and suspicious cause of early-stage ankle TB underwent arthroscopic treatment from April 1, 2010, to March 31, 2016. These cases all failed to confirm diagnosis of TB by ankle arthrocentesis. They included seven males and eight females with an average age of 37.5 (8 to 70) in the study. Among them, five cases had history of pulmonary tuberculosis, and six had history of trauma. The procedure included synovial membrane biopsy and debridement. The diagnosis was confirmed by pathologic examination and culture. The treatment was combined with systemic anti-tuberculous drugs. Follow-up measurements included VAS score, AOFAS score, ESR, CRP, and MRI.

Results

After arthroscopic management, 13 cases confirmed TB by pathologic examination and culture, and two cases still remained clinically suspected TB; the rate of confirmed case was 87%. The incision healed well in all cases, and no serious complications were observed. There were significant differences in VAS scores, AOFAS scores, ESR, and CRP between before and after treatment (P < 0.01). Joint swelling disappeared or was relieved after 2 months in most patients. Ankle swelling and pain in one patient was improved after changing anti-tuberculous drugs. MRI suggested that all patients had effusion in the articular cavity, accompanied by bone edema of the distal tibia and talus before the treatment. After the surgery, the effusion was significantly reduced, and the signal of bone edema almost disappeared. No recurrent TB was found during the follow-ups.

Conclusion

Arthroscopic management for early-stage ankle TB is minimally invasive, safe, and reliable. It can easily obtain samples from specific area of TB for further confirmation of the diagnosis, while the debridement can also assist in local disease control. For cases of highly suspicious joint TB, arthroscopic biopsy and debridement after transient anti-TB treatment is recommended.

Level of evidence

Level IV, therapeutic case series

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s13018-018-1048-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.