Tuberculosis (TB) in a joint arthroplasty is unusual, and is usually due to reactivation from a previously infected joint or rarely from endogenous spread. We present a patient with septic loosening of a cemented Thompson's hemiarthroplasty due to Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection seven years post-operatively. At the time of surgery he had no symptoms or signs of TB. There have been no such reported cases in the English medical literature.
BaldiniN., ToniA., GreggiT., GiuntiA.. Deep sepsis from Mycobacterium tuberculosis after total hip replacement.Arch Orthop Trauma Surg1988; 107: 186–8.
2.
JohnsonR., BarnesK.L., OwenR.. Reactivation of tuberculosis after total hip replacement.J Bone Joint Surg (Br)1979; 61-B: 148–50.
3.
KimY.Y., AhnB.H., KoC.U., KwakB.M., YoonY.S.. Charnley low friction arthroplasty in tuberculosis of the hip.J Bone Joint Surg (Br)1988; 70-B: 756–60.
4.
LaforgiaR., MurphyJ.C.M., RedfernTR. Low friction arthroplasty for old quiescent infection of the hip.J Bone Joint Surg (Br)1988; 70-B: 373–6.
5.
MartiniM.. Tuberculosis of the bones and joints.Berlin, Heidelberg, New York: Springer1988.
6.
McCulloughC.J.. Tuberculosis as a late complication of total hip replacement.Acta Orthop Scand1977; 48: 508–10.
7.
BlochA.B., RiederH.L., KellyG.D., CauthenG.M., HaydenC.H., SniderD.E.J.. The epidemiology of tuberculosis in the United States. Implications for diagnosis and treatment.Clin Chest Med1989; 10: 297–313.
8.
HardingeK., ClearyJ., CharnleyJ.. Low friction arthroplasty for healed septic and tuberculous arthritis.J Bone Joint Surg (Br)1979; 61-B: 144–7.
9.
EskolaA., SantavirtaS., KonttinenY.T., TallrothK., HoikkaV., LindholmeS.T.. Cementless total replacement for old tuberculosis of the hip.J Bone Joint Surg (Br)1988; 70-B: 603–6.
10.
American Thoracic Society.Diagnostic standards and classification of tuberculosis and other mycobacterial diseases.Am Rev Respir Dis1981; 123: 343–51.
11.
American Thoracic Society / Centres for Disease Control.Treatment of tuberculosis and other mycobacterial diseases.Am Rev Respir Dis1983; 127: 790–6.
12.
American Thoracic Society / Centres for Disease Control.Treatment of tuberculosis and tuberculosis infection in adults and children.Am Rev Respir Dis1986; 134: 355–63.
