BONE AND JOINT TUBERCULOSIS - A 10-YEAR REVIEW

The incidence of bone and joint tuberculosis has declined ever since t he advent of medical antituberculous therapy. To evaluate the evolving presentation, we undertook a 10-year review of this form of extrapulm onary tuberculosis in 7 general hospitals in Israel. Thirty-eight pati ents were identified on the basis of strict criteria. Median age of 63 years in this series was higher than foreseen in this relatively unde rdeveloped region. Spinal involvement was remarkably low. Involvement of the extremities had a trend towards right side predominance. Overt clinical manifestations were encountered rarely in cases of deep-seate d infection. However, unsuspecting doctors and incomplete workup frequ ently contributed to a further delay in diagnosis. A significant fract ion of aberrant management was also found with undue surgical interven tion in many cases.