Diagnosis and Management of Osteoarticular Tuberculosis: A Drastic Change in Mind Set Needed—It is Not Enough to Simply Diagnose TB

BACKGROUND: In the era of increasing drug resistance in pulmonary tuberculosis (TB), it is prudent to assess causes of poor response to anti tubercular therapy (ATT) and drug sensitivity pattern (DSP) in osteoarticular TB. MATERIALS AND METHODS: As a part of Bombay Orthopaedic society’s research project, members were asked to refer non responders to ATT to our institute. Cases were enrolled from October 2010 to March 2014. Deep tissue samples were obtained in all but five cases and subjected to a battery of tests including histopathology (HPE) and TB culture and sensitivity. The DSP was compared with the study performed by the principle author from 2004 to 2007 and published in 2009. RESULTS: 39 male and 50 female patients with a mean age of 24.85 years (2–66) were included and classified in four groups after results. (1) Culture and HPE positive-36. 24 had MDR and three XDR TB. Primary resistance to even second line drugs and deterioration of DSP since last study was noted, (2) culture negative and HPE positive-21. The cause of poor response was surgical in more than half cases, (3) non representative samples or lost to follow-up-15, (4) TB mimics-16. CONCLUSION: There is increasing incidence of primary resistance to second line drugs, primary resistance in children and worsening of resistance patterns as compared to older studies. ATT initiation is a fateful decision and every attempt should be made to rule out TB mimics and establish DSP before initiation.