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Tuberculous extensor tenosynovitis of the hand

  • Handsurgery
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Abstract

Tuberculous tenosynovitis is a rare manifestation of extrapulmonary tuberculosis (Tb), especially if solely the dorsal hand compartment is affected. In this report, we present the medical history of an immuno-competent 32-year-old man presented with a painful swelling of the right dorsal wrist. Initial inflammation onset had occurred 6 months before he consulted our service, resulting in consultation of several physicians and extensive diagnostic procedures without gaining a specific diagnosis. Finally, after extensive diagnostic tests, a tenosynovectomy was performed and tuberculosis-induced extensor tenosynovitis was detected. The diagnosis was established by positive histology, repeated specific PCR and T-SPOT.TB. Tuberculous tenosynovitis can easily be overlooked as a cause of chronic tenosynovitis particularly in immunocompetent young people lacking any risk factors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plastic Surgery and Hand Surgery, Technische Universität München, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675, Munich, Germany

    Michael Koch, Jörn Lohmeyer, Hans-Günther Machens & Jan-Thorsten Schantz

  2. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Lindwurm Str. 2a, 80337, Munich, Germany

    Florian A. Probst

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  1. Florian A. Probst
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  2. Michael Koch
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  3. Jörn Lohmeyer
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  4. Hans-Günther Machens
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  5. Jan-Thorsten Schantz
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Correspondence to Michael Koch.

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Probst, F.A., Koch, M., Lohmeyer, J. et al. Tuberculous extensor tenosynovitis of the hand. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 132, 1141–1145 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-012-1527-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-012-1527-2

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