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Tuberculosis of the hand. Case report
Scandinavian Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
|January 1, 1981
Summary
Tuberculosis of the hand presents insidiously, often delaying diagnosis. Early biopsy and synovial culture are crucial for identifying this rare hand infection, enabling effective treatment.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Infectious Diseases
- Rheumatology
Background:
- Tuberculosis (TB) is a systemic infectious disease primarily affecting the lungs.
- Skeletal tuberculosis can manifest in various bones and joints, but hand involvement is rare.
- Diagnosis of extrapulmonary TB, especially in the hand, can be challenging due to non-specific symptoms.
Observation:
- Three cases of tuberculosis affecting the hand are presented.
- Patients exhibited insidious onset and slow progression of symptoms.
- Absence of systemic symptoms and other infection sites complicated early diagnosis.
- Diagnosis was confirmed via open biopsy and synovial tissue culture.
Findings:
- Hand tuberculosis presented with subtle, non-specific signs.
- Open biopsy and synovial tissue culture proved essential for definitive diagnosis.
- Wound healing occurred without complications before chemotherapy initiation.
- Combined conservative and surgical management led to cure in two patients.
Implications:
- Highlights the importance of considering tuberculosis in hand swellings, even without systemic signs.
- Emphasizes the diagnostic value of synovial biopsy and culture in obscure hand infections.
- Suggests that prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment lead to favorable outcomes in hand TB.