Extraspinal osteoarticular tuberculosis: a forgotten entity?

Tuberculosis affects a significant percentage of the world's population and is responsible for bone and joint infections particularly in the developing world. The problem has been compounded by the HIV/ AIDS epidemic. Whereas tuberculous involvement of the spine is readily included in a list of differentials for destructive lesions of the spine, infection in other skeletal areas is often not considered. In endemic areas, physicians are aware of the clinical and radiological presentations of musculoskeletal tuberculosis. In non-endemic areas, this knowledge is often lacking. Diagnostic delay often results in increased morbidity and mortality. There is a need therefore to highlight extra-spinal osteoarticular tuberculosis as a real entity.