Retrospective Evaluation of 14 Patients with Bone and Joint Tuberculosis in Mersin, Turkey

İngilizce (OpenAlex)

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC), is a granulomatous infection and can be localized in pulmonary and extrapulmonary sites.Of all TB cases, 1-3% and of the extrapulmonary TB cases, 10-11% is bone and joint TB.In this study we aimed to retrospectively analyze the demographical, microbiological, radiological and histopathological characteristics of the patients with suspected bone and joint TB. Materials and Methods:Between January 2005-July 2019, 285 patients with suspected bone and joint TB were examined retrospectively.Mycobacterial culture and/or Ehrlich-Ziehl-Neelsen (EZN) positive patients were included into the study.The demographic characteristics, pathological, radiological and microbiological findings of the patients were evaluated.Results: MTC positivity was detected in 14 of 285 cases by EZN and/or culture.Mean age of the cases was 34.85 years (min-max: 2-64 years).No physical examination findings compatible with TB were detected in the patients.Moreover, it was found that all of the cases had pain and/or movement limitation, trauma in two cases, contact story with TB in one case.Chronic granulomatous inflammations characterized with caseification necrosis were detected in 5 cases.Radiological findings of 11 cases were consistent with TB.Conclusion: Bone-joint TB might be an important reason of chronic bone-joint pains and movement limitations.Therefore, we suggest that clinical, radiological, histopathological and microbiological findings should be evaluated together in the diagnosis of bone joint TB.