Tuberculosis of the Foot and Ankle in Children

Purpose. To report manifestations and management of tuberculosis of the foot and ankle in 21 children. Methods. Records of 12 girls and 9 boys aged 3 to 14 (mean, 7) years with tuberculosis of the foot and ankle were reviewed. The mean delay in presentation was 4.7 (range, 0.5–14) months. All the pa...

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Main Authors: Anil Agarwal, Nadeem Akhtar Qureshi, Shariq Azam Khan, Pawan Kumar, Sachin Samaiya
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2011-08-01
Series:Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/230949901101900217
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author Anil Agarwal
Nadeem Akhtar Qureshi
Shariq Azam Khan
Pawan Kumar
Sachin Samaiya
author_facet Anil Agarwal
Nadeem Akhtar Qureshi
Shariq Azam Khan
Pawan Kumar
Sachin Samaiya
author_sort Anil Agarwal
collection DOAJ
description Purpose. To report manifestations and management of tuberculosis of the foot and ankle in 21 children. Methods. Records of 12 girls and 9 boys aged 3 to 14 (mean, 7) years with tuberculosis of the foot and ankle were reviewed. The mean delay in presentation was 4.7 (range, 0.5–14) months. All the patients had local swelling, tenderness, and antalgic gait; 16 were limping; 5 had an antecedent trauma; 11 had an abscess; and 6 had a discharging sinus. The diagnosis was based on a smear positive for acid-fast bacilli (n=2), histopathology (n=15), or clinicoradiological findings (n=4). Nine patients had osteoarticular tuberculosis in other parts of the body. None had evidence of pulmonary tuberculosis. Lesions were classified into synovial (articular) and osseous. All 3 synovial lesions occurred in the ankle, 2 of which were at an advanced stage. Osseous lesions occurred in the calcaneus (n=5), metatarsal (n=5), talus (n=3), cuboid (n=3), medial cuneiform (n=1), and phalanx (n=1), and were sub-classified into stages 1 (n=3), 2 (n=5), and 3 (n=10) according to disease progression. All the patients were treated conservatively with splintage and chemotherapy. Results. The mean follow-up period was 21 (range, 7–51) months. All the 3 patients with stage 1 osseous lesions showed healing within 6 weeks and had complete recovery of function. Four of the 5 patients with stage 2 lesions also showed complete recovery of function and reformation of bony trabeculations; radiological incorporation of sequestrum was obvious by 6 months in most patients. In patients with stage 3 lesions, healing was delayed and there was residual alteration in bony architecture and joint changes. Sclerotic changes and joint involvement also increased the likelihood of poor outcomes. However, none of our patients had any residual tenderness or foot deformity at the final follow-up. Conclusion. Outcome after non-operative treatment is good, provided the lesions are treated early.
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spelling doaj.art-be5731279a9241f4a6ec2e329c1552d22022-12-21T19:02:37ZengSAGE PublishingJournal of Orthopaedic Surgery2309-49902011-08-011910.1177/230949901101900217Tuberculosis of the Foot and Ankle in ChildrenAnil AgarwalNadeem Akhtar QureshiShariq Azam KhanPawan KumarSachin SamaiyaPurpose. To report manifestations and management of tuberculosis of the foot and ankle in 21 children. Methods. Records of 12 girls and 9 boys aged 3 to 14 (mean, 7) years with tuberculosis of the foot and ankle were reviewed. The mean delay in presentation was 4.7 (range, 0.5–14) months. All the patients had local swelling, tenderness, and antalgic gait; 16 were limping; 5 had an antecedent trauma; 11 had an abscess; and 6 had a discharging sinus. The diagnosis was based on a smear positive for acid-fast bacilli (n=2), histopathology (n=15), or clinicoradiological findings (n=4). Nine patients had osteoarticular tuberculosis in other parts of the body. None had evidence of pulmonary tuberculosis. Lesions were classified into synovial (articular) and osseous. All 3 synovial lesions occurred in the ankle, 2 of which were at an advanced stage. Osseous lesions occurred in the calcaneus (n=5), metatarsal (n=5), talus (n=3), cuboid (n=3), medial cuneiform (n=1), and phalanx (n=1), and were sub-classified into stages 1 (n=3), 2 (n=5), and 3 (n=10) according to disease progression. All the patients were treated conservatively with splintage and chemotherapy. Results. The mean follow-up period was 21 (range, 7–51) months. All the 3 patients with stage 1 osseous lesions showed healing within 6 weeks and had complete recovery of function. Four of the 5 patients with stage 2 lesions also showed complete recovery of function and reformation of bony trabeculations; radiological incorporation of sequestrum was obvious by 6 months in most patients. In patients with stage 3 lesions, healing was delayed and there was residual alteration in bony architecture and joint changes. Sclerotic changes and joint involvement also increased the likelihood of poor outcomes. However, none of our patients had any residual tenderness or foot deformity at the final follow-up. Conclusion. Outcome after non-operative treatment is good, provided the lesions are treated early.https://doi.org/10.1177/230949901101900217
spellingShingle Anil Agarwal
Nadeem Akhtar Qureshi
Shariq Azam Khan
Pawan Kumar
Sachin Samaiya
Tuberculosis of the Foot and Ankle in Children
Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery
title Tuberculosis of the Foot and Ankle in Children
title_full Tuberculosis of the Foot and Ankle in Children
title_fullStr Tuberculosis of the Foot and Ankle in Children
title_full_unstemmed Tuberculosis of the Foot and Ankle in Children
title_short Tuberculosis of the Foot and Ankle in Children
title_sort tuberculosis of the foot and ankle in children
url https://doi.org/10.1177/230949901101900217
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AT sachinsamaiya tuberculosisofthefootandankleinchildren