Table 1 Reported cases of tuberculous knee arthritis in children
Author (reference) | Number of Cases | Number with joint/bone infection only | Appendicular joints involved | Presentation age | Diagnosis of tuberculosis | Chest radiograph | Skin test |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Southwood (18) | 1 | 1 | Knees, ankles | 2 years | Positive culture from bone | Hilar adenopathy; no parenchymal involvement | Positive |
Jacobs (14) | 1 | 1 | Knee | 4 years | Histopathology (giant cells); cultures and stains for TB negative | Not stated | Initially negative then positive |
Jacobs (14) | 1 | 0 | Knee | 8 months | Positive synovial fluid culture | Positive | Initially negative then positive |
Haygood (12) | 45 | Unknown | Hip – 18 Knee – 17 Ankle – 5 Shoulder – 2 Midfoot, elbow, wrist, hand – 1 each | 6 months to 19 years | Positive culture, histopathology and/or guinea pig inoculation | Not stated | Not stated |
Al-Matar (7) | 1 | 1 | Knee | 2 years | Positive culture and histopathology | Normal | Positive |
Al-Matar (7) | 1 | 1 | Knee | 6 years | Positive culture and histopathology | Normal | Positive |
Hoffman (13) | 52 | 24 | Knees | 8 months to 13 years | Predominantly histopathologic but details not stated | Normal in 24 (47%) | 91% Positive |
Sawhney (17) | 1 | 1 | Knees, elbow, shoulder | 13 years | Positive culture, polymerase chain reaction and histopathology | Normal | Positive |
Aloui (8) | 1 | 1 | Knee | 1 year | Histopathology of bone lesion | Normal | Negative |
Aloui (8) | 1 | 1 | Knee | 2 years | Histopathology and positive culture of bone lesion | Normal | Not stated |
Uzel (19) | 1 | 1 | Knee | 9 years | Synovial histopathology; cultures negative | Normal | Positive |
Rajakumar (present case) | 1 | 1 | Knee | 2 years | Synovial fluid culture | Normal | Initially negative then positive |