Tuberculous arthritis of the elbow joint: A case report

Tuberculosis of the Elbow Joint in an Indian Boy: A Rare Entity With a Diagnostic Challenge

Tuberculosis of the bones and joints is an infrequently reported entity. Isolated involvement of the elbow joint is exceedingly rare, even in endemic countries. The diagnosis is an arduous task, especially if it presents in younger age groups. Herein, a case of tuberculosis of the right elbow joint in a seven-year-old Indian child is presented. The diagnosis was challenging due to the vague clinical features and rarity of the disease, but he was diagnosed after a detailed clinical examination along with a radiometric assessment. He was initiated on the appropriate chemotherapy.

Case Report: Delayed treatment of tuberculosis of the elbow joint

Extrapulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is known to occur in the musculoskeletal system, including the elbow joints. These cases are rarely found because the signs and symptoms are not specific to extrapulmonary TB or other diseases. We report a case of a 24-year-old male, who complained about pain in his left elbow and noticed swelling. Initially, he complained about pain all over his left arm, after several reflexology massages to alleviate his toothache. However, instead of seeking medical treatment, he visited a traditional massage therapist every week without improvement in his left arm pain including his left elbow for almost one year. Examination showed skin perforation with discharge. He also had fever during the first few days when the elbow became swollen. Weight loss and a decreased appetite were also noticed by the patient. The patient went to the orthopedic department and underwent surgery. Radiological examination indicated bone erosion on the left humerus and radius, while posteroanterior chest X-ray did not show any abnormality. Histopathological examinations from biopsy and fluid aspiration showed granulomas and datia Langhans cells. Mycobacterium tuberculosis was found on acid-fast bacteria smear and culture. The patient was administered multidrug tuberculosis therapy, which consisted of two months of an intensive phase and seven months of a continuation phase, in accordance with the World Health Organization’s guidelines for extrapulmonary tuberculosis treatment. He has currently undergone the continuation phase of the treatment and his condition has improved. Early detection of tuberculosis of the elbow can prevent damage to joint structure and impairment of joint function.

Tuberculosis Septic Arthritis of the Elbow: A Case Report and Literature Review

Tuberculosis (TB) infections of the musculoskeletal system are rare. A 77-year-old female with chronic left elbow pain for five months was treated by irrigation and debridement of the elbow for a presumed diagnosis of septic arthritis. Her pain and wound condition did not improve, and she was referred to our institution. Plain radiograph and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed an osteolytic lesion with joint effusion and severe destruction of the elbow joint. We suspected an atypical infection of the elbow due to the chronicity, negative culture results and severe osteoarticular destruction. An open arthrotomy with irrigation and debridement was performed, and the joint was stabilized with a pin and immobilized. A tissue acid-fast bacillus (AFB) stain was positive and Mycobacterium tuberculosis culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were also positive. Anti-TB drugs were started for a planned 12-month course, but she developed an adverse drug reaction from the standard regimen and had to be switched to a second-line regimen. The stitches were removed at two weeks and the wound eventually healed. The elbow was immobilized in a posterior slab for six weeks then the pin was removed. At the last follow-up visit seven months after the initial surgery, she had improved, with only mild pain on elbow motion. Her range of motion was 110 degrees of flexion and extension lag of 30 degrees.

TB of the elbow is a rare condition. The presentation is insidious and varies, and can be confused with other elbow conditions. Delayed diagnosis can lead to severe joint destruction and poor outcome. The physician should always suspect a TB elbow in cases of chronic elbow pain with synovitis, especially in areas endemic for TB. Joint fluid aspiration and MRI are the most reliable investigations for diagnosis. Anti-TB drugs are the mainstay of treatment. Appropriate surgical interventions such as drainage, synovectomy and reconstructive procedures will often be required. Collaboration between the orthopedist and an infectious specialist is essential for optimal treatment planning.

A Case Report of Tuberculosis of Isolated Radial Head A Rare Location with Diagnostic Dilemma

INTRODUCTION

Tuberculosis (TB) of isolated radial head is scantily reported in the literature. Nonspecific symptoms and difficulty in interpreting initial screening radiographs often lead to misdiagnosis.

CASE REPORT

We present a case of 42-year-old male elsewhere diagnosed as pyogenic arthritis of left elbow and treated by incisional drainage and broad-spectrum antibiotics, who presented to us 6 months later with multiple non-healing actively discharging sinuses. The repeat radiographs and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) were reported as chronic osteomyelitis of proximal radius without the involvement of humerus and ulna. The excision of radial head along with sinus tracts was done for clearance of disease and excised tissues, on being subjected to Cartridge Based Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (CB-NAAT), culture and histopathological examination, the diagnosis of TB was established.

CONCLUSION

The diagnosis of TB of the elbow is generally delayed & mismanagement may occur. Therefore, not only biopsy is essential to demonstrate the presence of mycobacterium TB by CB-NAAT (Cartridge Based Nucleic Acid Amplification Test) method and in culture but also the presence of tuberculoma in histopathology is essential to establish the diagnosis so that early appropriate treatment can be instituted.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis of the elbow joint

Mycobacterium tuberculosis(TB) affecting the elbow joint is rarely reported in the developed world. We present the case of an 85-year-old Caucasian female who complained of a chronically discharging and painful wound across her left elbow during her admission for an ischaemic stroke. This was initially deemed to be either a bursitis or local manifestation of amyloid by her general practitioner and dermatologist respectively prior to admission. She was commenced on flucloxacillin by the medical team for presumed cellulitis with minimal response. A synovial fluid sample and repeated wound swabs yielded no growth from routine bacterial culture. Radiological assessment together with knowledge of her husband having previous TB raised the possibility of TB arthritis. Synovial fluid aspirate was subsequently sent for acid-alcohol fast bacilli microscopy and mycobacterial culture that confirmed M. tuberculosis She was consequently started on multidrug TB therapy, over a year after the onset of her symptoms.