Atypical Presentation of Tuberculosis of Elbow Joint in Operated Case of Distal Humerus Fracture.
BACKGROUND
A typical presentations of tuberculosis are not uncommon. Periprosthetic infection with tuberculosis after total joint replacement has well published. Tuberculosis of the elbow following open reduction internal fixation of a distal humerus fraeture is extremely rare.


METHODS
We report case of a healthy, immunocompetenet 49-year-old male who underwent open reduction and internal fixation with bicolumnar plating for distal humerus fracture and presented after 18 month with cystic swelling over medial aspect of operated site. There was no wound dehiscence and the underlying fracture was healed well without any signs of implant loosening or bony involvement. Cystic swelling was excised and histopathology provided the diagnosis of tuberculosis. Patient was treated with anti tubercular chemotherapy and patient made uneventful recovery.


CONCLUSIONS
Although synovial tuberculosis after fracture fixation is a rare entity, tuberculosis should be kept as a differential diagnosis. Surgeons should have high index of suspicion to diagnose atypical presentations of tuberculosis.
Dept of Orthopaedics, SKN Medical College, Pune 411041. Maharashtra. India.
Yogesh
Y
Gaikwad
Dept of Orthopaedics, SKN Medical College, Pune 411041. Maharashtra. India.
Madhav
M
Khadilkar
Dept of Orthopaedics, SKN Medical College, Pune 411041. Maharashtra. India.
Ashish S
AS
Ranade
Dept of Orthopaedics, SKN Medical College, Pune 411041. Maharashtra. India.
Devendra N
DN
Vartak
distal humerusfracture; elbow; open reduction internal fixation; osteoarticular; tuberculosis