PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS AS A SOURCE OF INFECTION AFTER TOTAL HIP-ARTHROPLASTY - A REPORT OF 2 CASES

Two cases of septic loosening due to a tuberculosis infection occurred 18 months and 14 years after total hip arthroplasties. The primary so urce was pulmonary tuberculosis. Treatment was by removal of the prost hesis and radical debridement with the local implantation of gentamici n PMMA beads, followed by antituberculosis chemotherapy for one year. In the first case, a revision arthroplasty was carried out 20 months l ater; the second was reconstructed with a vastus lateralis transpositi on one month later. There was no recurrence of infection after a follo w up of 3 and 2 years respectively. Although this is a rare complicati on, the possibility must be born in mind. Early diagnosis and treatmen t of pulmonary tuberculosis may prevent the secondary infection of a t otal hip arthroplasty.