DISSEMINATED REFRACTARY TUBERCULOSIS WITH BICEPS TENDON INVOLVEMENT IN AN IMMUNOCOMPETENT PATIENT

• Published in: Revista brasileira de ortopedia 2009, Vol.44 (3), p.254-259
• Main Authors: Dos Reis Oliveira, Marcelo, Schiefer, Márcio, da Silva, Marcos Britto, Fontenelle, César, Júnior, Yonder Archanjo Ching-San, Franco, José Sérgio
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• ISSN: 2255-4971; 2255-4971
• DOI: 10.1016/S2255-4971(15)30076-8

OBJECTIVEThe authors report a rare case of disseminated tuberculosis which had compromised the long head of biceps tendon and shoulder joint, during standard drug therapy.METHODSOn a first sight, the accurate diagnosis wasn't accomplished and the patient had been treated with physiotherapy for rotator cuff tear. However, the patient presented with a fast growing mass in anterior region of the proximal third of the arm, complaining of pain increase. Aspirative punction of the mass revealed a yellow fluid and the laboratorial analysis confirmed infection by M. Tuberculosis. The patient was treated with surgical debridement and his drug therapy was changed.RESULTSResolution of infectious status and complete shoulder function restoration was succeeded.CONCLUSIONDue to its high prevalence in Brazil, tuberculosis must always be considered as a possible cause of inflammatory joint disease, even in immunocompetent patients.