Abstract
Tuberculous tenosynovitis of the hand is uncommon in comparison with other parts of the body. The authors have encountered six cases of the last seven years.
Three were males and three were females, ranging from 43 to 76 years old. The duration of symptoms varied from two months to four years. Two cases were bacteriologically, but four cases were diagnosed only by pathological examination. In one case, only anti-tuberculous chemotherapy was done, and only synovectomy was done in two cases. The other three were treated by synovectomy and chemotherapy.
One of two cases treated only synovectomy recurred three months after the surgery, and underwent radical tenosynovectomy and anti-tuberculous chemotherapy.
Tuberculous tenosynovitis is difficult to diagnosed in earlier stage. Whenever tuberculous tenosynovitis is suspected, radical synovectomy should be carried out and the resected specimen should be examined bacteriologically and pathologically. The decision to begin the chemotherapy should be made earlier on the histopathological basis.
