In this retrospective observational cohort study, we describe 17 patients out of 1775 treated for various fractures who developed mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection after surgery. The cohort comprised 15 men and two women with a mean age of 40 years (24 to 70). A total of ten fractures were open and seven were closed. Of these, seven patients underwent intramedullary nailing of a fracture of the long bone, seven had fractures fixed with plates, two with Kirschner-wires and screws, and one had a hemiarthroplasty of the hip with an Austin Moore prosthesis. All patients were followed-up for two years. In all patients, the infection resolved, and in 14 the fractures united. Nonunion was seen in two patients one of whom underwent two-stage total hip arthroplasty (THA) and the other patient was treated using excision arthoplasty. Another patient was treated using two-stage THA. With only sporadic case reports in the literature, MTB infection is rarely clinically suspected, even in underdeveloped and developing countries, where pulmonary and other forms of TB are endemic. In developed countries there is also an increased incidence among immunocompromised patients. In this paper we discuss the pathogenesis and incidence of MTB infection after surgical management of fractures and suggest protocols for early diagnosis and management. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2015;97-B:1279–83

Over a four-year period, nine patients with tuberculosis of the wrist were treated. The mean time to diagnosis was 5 months (1 to 20). Restricted wrist motion and an increased sedimentation rate were universal. Swelling, pain on motion and severe restriction of metacarpopha-langeal joint flexion, especially in patients with extensor involvement were common. In three patients, the disease involved the carpal bones, while in five it was limited to the tenosynovium. One patient had a cold abscess not involving tendon, sheath or bone. Granulomatous inflammation on the paraffin section was seen in most patients. Only four had a positive tissue culture of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

These patients were treated either medially or surgically. In the group treated medically, an incisional biopsy was done and antituberculous chemotherapy administered for a minimum of six months. In the group treated surgically, surgical synovectomy and debridement were done and antituberculous drugs administered. All patients had a brief period of splintage followed by intensive physiotherapy.

At a mean follow-up of 12 months (6 to 24) all patients showed improvement in symptoms, with an increased range of motion. At final follow-up 50% of the patients had some residual loss of wrist motion. Those with extensor involvement seldom regained functional metacarpophalangeal joint flexion. The results showed no recurrence of infection in this study. The treatment resulted in good recovery of function, with low morbidity.