Pulmonary tuberculosis as a source of infection after total hip arthroplasty. A report of two cases.

Two cases of septic loosening due to a tuberculosis infection occurred 18 months and 14 years after total hip arthroplasties. The primary source was pulmonary tuberculosis. Treatment was by removal of the prosthesis and radical debridement with the local implantation of gentamicin PMMA beads, followed by antituberculosis chemotherapy for one year. In the first case, a revision arthroplasty was carried out 20 months later; the second was reconstructed with a vastus lateralis transposition one month later. There was no recurrence of infection after a follow up of 3 and 2 years respectively. Although this is a rare complication, the possibility must be born in mind. Early diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis may prevent the secondary infection of a total hip arthroplasty.