Carpal Tunnel Syndrome as the Initial Manifestation of Wrist Bone Tuberculosis

Abstract

Case: We report the case of a patient with bone tuberculosis (TB) of the wrist, whose initial manifestation mimicked the typical clinical presentation of carpal tunnel syndrome. This misdiagnosis lead to surgical mistreatment. After no clinical improvement, thorough study was carried out, and bone TB was diagnosed. Tuberculostatic treatment was performed for 12 months. Wrist arthrodesis was performed after 6 months because of pain and very limited flexion-extension range of motion. Conclusion: Our case highlights the importance of differential diagnoses in the face of such frequent and suggestive symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Secondary to Tuberculous Tenosynovitis With Rice Bodies

“…This disguises the clinical symptoms and delays the diagnosis 15 . The literature is abounding with cases of delayed or wrong diagnoses because of less awareness 3,16,17 . Many patients had the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis or nonspecific synovitis before the diagnosis of tuberculosis.…”

JBJS Case Connector

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