Tuberculosis (TB) infection of bones and joints accounts for
6.7% of TB cases in England, and is associated with significant
morbidity and disability. Public Health England reports that patients
with TB experience delays in diagnosis and treatment. Our aims were
to determine the demographics, presentation and investigation of
patients with a TB infection of bones and joints, to help doctors
assessing potential cases and to identify avoidable delays. This was a retrospective observational study of all adults with
positive TB cultures on specimens taken at a tertiary orthopaedic
centre between June 2012 and May 2014. A laboratory information
system search identified the patients. The demographics, clinical presentation,
radiology, histopathology and key clinical dates were obtained from
medical records.Aims
Patients and Methods
Non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infection
of the musculoskeletal tissue is a rare disease. An early and accurate diagnosis
is often difficult because of the indolent clinical course and difficulty
of isolating pathogens. Our goal was to determine the clinical features
of musculoskeletal NTM infection and to present the treatment outcomes.
A total of 29 patients (nine females, 20 males between 34 and 85
years old, mean age 61.7 years; 34 to 85) with NTM infection of the
musculoskeletal system between 1998 to 2011 were identified and
their treatment retrospectively analysed. Microbiological studies
demonstrated NTM in 29 patients: the isolates were Cite this article:
This article presents an overview of mycetoma
and offers guidelines for orthopaedic surgeons who may be involved in
the care of patients with this condition. Cite this article:
