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

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.