Bone and joint TB

Symptoms of bone and joint and or spinal TB are pain, localized swelling, fever and weight loss. In progressive stages of the disease, tubercles may cause paraplegia (paralysis of the lower part of the body) in severe and extreme cases if untreated.

Diagnosis: Bone and Joint TB can be diagnosed by synovial biopsy (removing lubricating fluid from joint cavities) and taking cultures. Also aspirations (fluid removal by suction) can be used to collect samples for diagnosis.

Management: Short course treatment may be effective to treat some cases. Drug treatment for a period of six to nine months may be affective if the infection is diagnosed soon enough. Surgery may be necessary in adults. Preventative measures can be followed to prevent joints from fusing due to the tubercle bacilli infection.

High Risk Groups: Bone and Joint TB is more common in the elderly than in younger patients. Hip, knee, ankle, and tarsal (foot) bones infections are more often cited in older people than in younger people although both age groups report bone and joint TB.