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Total hip arthroplasty complicated by tuberculous infection
1Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sunnybrook Health Science Center, North York, Ontario, Canada.
The Journal of Arthroplasty
|January 1, 1996
Summary
Tuberculosis can complicate total hip arthroplasty years after surgery, even without prior exposure. Early suspicion and tuberculous cultures are vital for diagnosing unexpected arthroplasty failure before revision surgery.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Infectious Diseases
- Medical Case Reports
Background:
- Degenerative arthritis is a common indication for total hip arthroplasty (THA).
- THA is a well-established procedure for managing severe hip arthritis.
- Complications following THA can occur, necessitating further investigation and management.
Observation:
- A 66-year-old woman presented with a complication of a THA performed four years prior.
- The patient had no known history of tuberculosis exposure.
- No evidence of skeletal or non-skeletal tuberculous infection was initially found.
Findings:
- The complication was identified as tuberculous infection of the hip arthroplasty.
- This diagnosis was made despite the absence of typical tuberculosis risk factors.
- Unexpected failure of the total hip arthroplasty was attributed to tuberculosis.
Implications:
- A high index of suspicion is crucial for diagnosing unusual causes of arthroplasty failure.
- Tuberculous infection should be considered in cases of unexplained THA complications.
- Pre-revision surgery tuberculous cultures are recommended to guide appropriate treatment and prevent surgical site infection.