Background:
Approximately 10% of extra-pulmonary cases of tuberculosis (TB) are skeletal in origin (1). An unusual form of skeletal TB is tuberculosis of the foot and ankle; delays in diagnosis and treatment are caused by the rare site, ignorance of the condition, and capacity to mimic other conditions clinically and on radiographs; the symptoms of skeletal TB may present slowly over an extended period of time, making a diagnosis difficult and time-consuming (2). The absence of concurrent pulmonary disease can further muddle the diagnosis(1). For the best possible outcome and to reduce the risk of deformity, bone and joint disorders must be diagnosed early(2,3). The use of modern imaging modalities has improved the diagnosis of patients with musculoskeletal TB and the ability to perform targeted biopsies on the affected regions(4,5). To establish a firm diagnosis suitable specimens for culture and other diagnostic procedures must be obtained(3). For the treatment of drug-susceptible musculoskeletal illness, a rifampin-based regimen lasting 6 to 9 months is advised (1).