[Shoulder girdle and shoulder joint tuberculosis]

From 1955 to 1980 inclusive, 50 patients with tuberculous omarthritis and 11 with specific shoulder girdle disorders (nine sternoclavicular joints, one isolated clavicular shaft focus, as well as one acromioclavicular joint focus) were treated at this clinic with a combined tuberculostatic and surgical therapy. The youngest patient was nine years old, and the oldest patient was 89 years old (36 females, 25 males). The patients (average age 49.4 years) comprised 11 foreign workers. From the beginning of the symptoms up to diagnosis, an average of 1.4 years elapsed. 34 patients (56%) had already been treated earlier for tuberculosis, and 12 (20%) were suffering at the same time from an active specific infection of other localisation. Independently of abscesses and fistulae (35 patients = 57%) as well as other simultaneous tuberculosis, the one-hour value of the erythrocyte sedimentation rate was in the normal range, or it was only marginally to slightly raised (under 20 mm according to W.). In 28 patients (46%), arthrodeses were performed in the shoulder joint, whereas the focus was cleared in the remaining patients. One patient (89 years old) died of senile debility. All complications (16 reactivations, two dislocations of the bone chip implantations, one fail joint) healed without complications after secondary operations. In the follow-up examination (on average, after 3.1 years), we diagnosed one recurrence (sternoclavicular joint process). Of the 45 patients (74%) followed up, 36 (80%) had started working again on average 12 months after the end of hospital treatment, or had resumed their former occupation (pensioners, housewives). Three (7%) of those followed up needed a different occupation or were given a new job within their firm.