Spontaneous talar and calcaneal fracture in rheumatoid arthritis: a case report

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) leads to a progressive weakening of the skeleton which may result in bone fractures. However, spontaneous fractures (exclusive of stress fractures, vertebral collapse, and superficial articular fragmentation) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis have been only occasionally reported in the medical literature. A case of spontaneous talar and calcaneal fracture in rheumatoid arthritis is described. Bone lesions were identified on radiographs, MR images and scintigraphy in a patient with right ankle pain. The absence of episodes of acute trauma, and the presence of acute clinical manifestations should guide the clinical suspicion.