title: Tubercular osteomyelitis of metacarpals and phalanges in children.
abstract: The purpose of the series is to describe the management of tubercular osteomyelitis of metacarpals and phalanges in 11 children (range, 3-12 years) and to retrospectively analyse the relationship between radiological staging and clinical outcome following treatment. The available literature on the clinical and radiological manifestations of tubercular osteomyelitis of the hand (excluding wrist) was also reviewed. Follow-up averaged 17.7 months following completion of treatment. The different radiological descriptions of the condition could be grouped into three stages: Stage 1 (stage of soft tissue swelling and no bony changes), Stage 2 (stage of bony expansion) and Stage 3 (stage of destruction). The previously described different radiological entities of tubercular osteomyelitis of metacarpals and phalanges appear to be a sequential manifestation of the disease spectrum. Healing with non-operative treatment is excellent provided the diagnosis is made when tuberculosis presents with soft tissue swelling alone and before bony destruction occurs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, CNBC, Geeta Colony, Delhi, India. rachna_anila@yahoo.co.in
authors.forename: Anil
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Agarwal
authors.forename: Nadeem Akhtar
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Qureshi
authors.forename: Pawan
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Shariq
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khan
mesh_terms: D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D050278:Finger Phalanges; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D050279:Metacarpal Bones; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014394:Tuberculosis, Osteoarticular / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents