Conservative treatment of early-onset tubercular periprosthetic joint infection following total knee arthroplasty

Congia S.;Puddu G.;Sorrentino G.;Dessi G.;Marongiu G.

Co-prime

2020-01-01

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Abstract

Tubercular periprosthetic joint infections (PJI) are uncommon diseases in developed countries. Therefore, the systematic screening for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB) is not currently recommended before a total knee arthroplasty procedure. However, due to the new human migration flows and higher mycobacterial infection rates, tuberculosis could represent a rare but potential cause for PJI. Controversies about tubercular PJI diagnosis, management and treatment still exist due to a lack of clinical evidence. In the current report we present the case of an early-onset M. tuberculosis PJI of the knee and its successful conservative treatment with two years follow-up.