最近経験した結核性肘関節炎の1症例

抄録

There are many previous reports on the tuberculosis of various joints so far. However, reports on the tuberculosis of the elbow joint are very few. Recently, we experienced a case of tuberculosis of the elbow and describe the method of diagnosis and treatment.
A 79-year-old man visited our hospital in June 1996 with a massive swelling and limited ROM of the right elbow joint. He had been suffering from right elbow joint pain since 1993. He noticed swelling around the joint and limitaion of the right elbow joint from April, 1996. We suspected tuberculosis of the elbow because he had a history of tuberculosis of the right greater trochanter. Mantoux test was strongly positive. Fluid from his olecranon bursa was punctured for Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which revealed Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Microscopical examination also confirmed the same diagnosis. Therefore, instantly antitubercular drugs were administered and also currettage and synovectomy of his right elbow joint were performed. 3 months after the operation, pain and swelling of his right elbow joint decreased markedly and ROM also increased to a certain extent. From this study it can be concluded that PCR is useful in the early diagnosis of osteoarticular tuberculosis.