Congenital Syphilis on the Rise: A Case Series and Discussion of Two Patients With Orthopaedic Manifestations of a Rare but Increasingly Common Disease

Congenital syphilis is becoming increasingly common in the United States. Early identification and treatment are critical in preventing long-term sequelae, such as musculoskeletal deformity, and neurologic deficits. At our North American institution, two recent cases of congenital syphilis were identified primarily by their musculoskeletal manifestations. We describe these two cases and discuss the diagnostic challenges that they presented. In the setting of a rapid increase in the number of cases of congenital syphilis, this diagnosis is one of critical importance for orthopaedic surgeons to be familiar with. Identification can be difficult without high clinical suspicion, so increasing awareness is critical to ensuring timely diagnosis and treatment.