Juxta-articular bone lesions in tertiary yaws
Wallace, A.L.; Ellis, J.M.
Medical Journal of Australia 150(4): 217-219
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0025-729X PMID: 2716605 Document Number: 347233
A woman originating from the Solomon Islands but residing in Australia developed an expanding lesion of the lower left tibia. At operation a cavity was found and curetted followed by arthrodesis. The cause was not established. Six months later the right knee became swollen and at operation chronic villous synovitis with plasma-cell infiltrate was noted. The Venereal Disease Reference Laboratory test was negative but the fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption test was positive and she received oral penicillin with resolution of the lesions. A diagnosis of gummatous destruction of bones was made. It is thought that late-yaws lesions in Australia are likely to increase with continued movement of people to Australia from the neighbouring island states where there is recent resurgence of yaws.G.W. Csonka.