An exceptional location of tuberculous arthritis: The metatarsal phalangeal joint

Abstract

Osteoarticular tuberculosis is a rare type of tuberculosis. The spine is the most frequent location, while peripheral locations in the limbs are rare. We report a case of tuberculous osteoarthritis of the metatarsophalangeal joint of the first ray of the foot in a 48-year-old woman. The patient presented with painful swelling of the dorsum of the big toe, insidiously evolving for 6 months. Diagnosis was obtained with histological study after surgical biopsy. Antitubercular chemotherapy for 12 months promoted healing. Through this clinical case the authors describe the epidemiological, diagnostic features, and treatment of osteoarticular tuberculosis and discuss the causes of delayed diagnosis often encountered in these exceptional locations and differential diagnoses, gout in particular, for this particular case.

Keywords

• Antituberculous chemotherapy
• Foot
• Metatarsophalangeal joint
• Osteoarthritis
• Tuberculosis