title: Tuberculous tenosynovitis presenting as finger drop: a case report and a systematic review of the literature.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Isolated tuberculous tenosynovitis and bursitis are rare among musculoske let al tuberculosis, but it is one of the major causes for chronic tendon sheath infection in developing countries. In hand, it is usually presented as a compound palmer ganglion (radio ulnar bursa), tenosynovitis of the flexer tendon sheaths and very few cases of tubercular tenosynovitis affecting the extensor tendons also are reported.
  
  
  METHODS
  We are reporting a rare case of tuberculous extensor tenosynovitis with rupture of the extensor digitorum tendon in an elderly Indian man. This case report and review meets the ethical standard of the journal.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Delayed diagnosis of tuberculous tenosynovitis is due to numerous differential diagnoses and slow progression. For all chronic synovitis around the wrist, consider Mycobacterial infection as an important differential diagnosis. Early diagnosis, radical excision combined with multidrug antituberculous therapy gives good functional results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, K.G. Hospital and Postgraduate Medical Institute, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Jayadev
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chandrasekharan
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, K.G. Hospital and Postgraduate Medical Institute, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Senthil Nathan
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Sambandam
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, ACME, Kannur, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: Sreehari
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cheriyakara
authors.affiliation: VCU Medical Center Ambulatory Care Center, Richmond, Virginia, USA.
authors.forename: Varatharaj
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mounasamy
keywords: antituberculous treatment; caseous necrosis; extensor digitorun tendon; melon-seed bodies; tuberculous tenosynovitis