Extra-spinal osteoarticular tuberculosis

Spinal tuberculosis is a rare form of extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EAT) in both industrialized and developing countries. In Tunisia, although EAT is underestimated due to underreporting, it represents about half of all EAT. In this retrospective study of 32 cases of extra-spinal TOA, we investigate the characteristics of this pathological entity, the contribution of modern imaging, the contribution of anatomopathology and biology in the diagnostic confirmation, the medical and surgical management, and the evolutionary modalities.The diagnosis of extra-spinal TOA must be evoked in the presence of any chronic osteoarticular pain with or without swelling, especially in an endemic environment, even if the tuberculin TST is negative. The diagnosis of certainty is based on a histological study. The improvement of medical treatments has considerably reduced the indications for surgery. The insidious evolution explains the delay in diagnosis and therefore the sometimes severe osteoarticular sequelae.