Presentation
Painful swelling of the right ankle with fever.
Patient Data
Age: 35 years
Gender: Female
From the case:
Septic arthritis - ankle
{"current_user":null,"step_through_annotations":true,"access":{"can_edit":false,"can_download":true,"can_toggle_annotations":true,"can_feature":false,"can_pin":false},"extraPropsURL":"/studies/109500/annotated_viewer_json?iframe=true\u0026lang=us"}
The MRI sequences demonstrate:
- narrowing of the tibiotalar joint space
- destruction of the tibial subchondral bone with focal metaphyseal lesions of intermediate signal on T1 and high signal on T2 centrally with hypointense peripheral rim and peripheral enhancement on postcontrast sequences.
- tibial bone marrow edema surrounding the tibial lesions
- joint effusion with synovial thickening and enhancement
- edematous infiltration of the perimalleolar soft tissues
Case Discussion
The clinical presentation and MRI features are most consistent with septic arthritis.