Psoriatic arthritis of the foot and ankle: analysis of joint involvement and diagnostic errors.

Forty-two patients with psoriatic arthritis arthritis who were referred to a tertiary medical center from 1983 to 1987 were reviewed. The foot and/or ankle was the most common site of joint or bone involvement, (N = 36, 86%). Twenty-six of these patients demonstrated bilateral involvement. The foot and ankle was the most common site of initial arthritis (N = 23, 55%). Errors in patient diagnosis were noted and analyzed. Eight patients with foot and ankle involvement were diagnosed and treated for either gout or compression of a digital nerve. Major causes for misdiagnosis included failure to identify psoriatic skin lesions and failure to associate foot and ankle symptoms with psoriatic arthritis.

Duke Scholars

Author John Russell Rice Medicine, Rheumatology and Immunology

Author David S. Caldwell Medicine, Rheumatology and Immunology