Case report on the recurrence of tuberculosis of hip after 40 years

Abstract

Tuberculosis of joints is relatively rare condition and is associated with varied degree of immobility as well as other limitations. Tuberculosis of hip joint results in a remarkable decline in the living standard of the patients since hip joint has a wide range of function in daily movements apart from being the pivotal weight bearing joint in human body. The degeneration of hip joint culminates into long term morbidity for the patient. In this case report we present a patient who had suffered from the tuberculosis of hip joint 40 years before and had received the standard anti-tuberculosis chemotherapeutic regimen with isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide and ethambutol. After treatment, the patient had some degree of relief from the pain however the movement of the hip joint was restricted; the restriction increasing progressively since. On diagnostic testing he was found to have a recurrence of tuberculosis along with the old scar tissue left by the primary condition. The patient was assessed thoroughly after which total hip replacement surgery was performed along with the adhesiolysis. The patient made a remarkable recovery after the surgery with a considerable increased range of movement in his hip joint.