Phaeohyphomycosis of the Ankle Joint: A Case Report

Introduction: Fungal infection of the musculoskeletal system is very rare. We present a rare case of fungal infection in the ankle joint. Skeletal phaeohyphomycosis (PHM) has been reported only once before in the literature. Case Report: A 56-year-old man presented with pain and swelling in his right ankle for 2 years. There was a diffuse swelling over the medial and lateral aspect of the ankle with restricted movements. Arthroscopic biopsy was done from the ankle and histopathological examination showed pigmented fungi with few phagocytosed fungal hyphae within multinucleated giant cells indicating PHM. The patient was treated with itraconazole. At 1-year follow-up, the patient is pain free and can do his routine activities comfortably. Conclusion: Fungal infection is a rare condition and must be kept in mind while dealing with chronic foot and ankle swelling. Early diagnosis and treatment will give good functional results. Keywords: Ankle joint, fungal infection, phaeohyphomycotic, ankle arthroscopy.