Tuberculous tenosynovitis of the flexor tendons of the wrist: a case report
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Abstract
Background
Tuberculous tenosynovitis poses a significant public health challenge, especially in developing countries. It usually affects the flexor tendons of the wrist.
Case presentation
We present a case of a 65-year-old Ghanaian female. She presented a progressively enlarging mass over the volar aspect of the right wrist and palm. She did not have a previous history of tuberculosis. However, her erythrocyte sedimentation rate was high and Mantoux (purified protein derivative) test was strongly positive (more than 15 mm). Radiograph of ulna, radius, and wrist showed osteopenic changes around the distal radius. Excision biopsy of the mass was done and samples sent for histopathology comment. The findings were an inflamed, thickened synovia with rice bodies: suggestive of tuberculous tenosynovitis. Anti-tuberculous chemotherapy was commenced on the second postoperative day.
Conclusion
Tuberculous tenosynovitis of the wrist is uncommon. However, in developing countries like Ghana where tuberculosis is prevalent, it should be part of the differential diagnosis of compound palmar ganglion in order to prevent delayed diagnosis and treatment.
Keywords
Compound palmar ganglion Rice bodies Melon bodies And flexor tendon sheathAbbreviations
- HIV
human immunodeficiency virus
- ESR
erythrocyte sedimentation rate
- SLE
systemic lupus erythematosus
Background
Chronic flexor tenosynovitis of the wrist and palm (compound palmar ganglion) is usually tuberculous in origin: though other conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus could cause it. It is common in males and usually involves the right hand [1]. Some cases have been reported in countries such as India, but not from Ghana as the condition is uncommon here. It may result from direct inoculation or hematogenous spread from a primary source like lungs, spine, and lymph nodes [1].
The flexor tendons of the wrist is a rare presentation of tuberculous infection [2]. Once established, it leads to chronic inflammation of all the tendons sheaths around the hand and wrist and may result in median nerve compression [3].
Diagnosis is usually delayed [4] and when this happens, it may be associated with the destruction of the underlying bone at the time the patient present to the clinic. It is therefore important to diagnose the condition early, followed by thorough surgical excision of all the tissues affected and the institution of appropriate anti-tuberculous chemotherapy [2]. The aim of this case report was to highlight the occurrence of tuberculous tenosynovitis in our environment in which it is deemed rare.
Case presentation
A 65-year-old well-nourished Ghanaian female presented to the orthopaedic clinic of our hospital with a 2-year history of a progressively enlarging mass over the volar aspect of the right wrist and palm. It was associated with pain around the wrist: which initially responded to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs until a month before she presented to the hospital. She also had stiffness at the wrist joint and paraesthesia involving the distribution of the median nerve (radial three and half fingers). These symptoms occasionally woke her up at night.
There was no history of a traumatic injury to the wrist, no contact with a patient with tuberculosis, and no symptoms suggestive of rheumatoid arthritis. The patient is a known diabetic of 10 years, which is well controlled by diet alone. She was HIV negative and has not had any vaccination against tuberculosis for the past 25 years as far as she could remember.
Clinical picture showing compound palmar ganglion
X-ray of the distal radius/ulna with the wrist showing localized osteopenia around the radiocarpal joint
Single fluctuant mass
Clinical picture showing rice bodies
Total synovectomy done
Discussion and conclusions
It was thought that, following the discovery of antituberculous medications; tuberculosis will not pose any danger to humans. However, it is still of public health importance due to the challenges with diagnosis and treatment [5]. It mainly affects the respiratory system but may affect other organs. About 14% are extra pulmonary [6].
Tuberculous tenosynovitis is an uncommon but well-documented condition [7]. It normally affects the wrist and volar aspect of the hand and accounts for 5% of cases of osteoarticular tuberculosis [8]. The mechanism of the infection may be through hematogenous spread from a primary site in the lungs, lymph nodes, genitourinary or bones or by direct inoculation [1]. Precipitating factors include trauma, overuse of the joint, old age, low socioeconomic status, malnutrition, and immunosuppression [9]. The mechanism in our patient was not clear but we believe it was due to immunosuppression probably as a result of diabetes, and overuse of the wrist, as she is a farmer. Males are commonly affected and the right hand and wrist are mainly involved [10]. Our patient was female though the handedness conforms to what is commonly reported in the literature.
Patients normally present with an insidious, slow growing, sausage-shaped mass along the involved tendon with or without pain [9]. Some may present with carpal tunnel syndrome (as in our patient) or with discharging sinus. Because the onset is gradual, most people present with a well-advanced disease.
The disease progresses through 3 histopathological stages depending on the duration, resistance of the person, and virulence of the infecting pathogens [9]. In the initial stages, there is the replacement of the tendon by granulation tissue. Subsequently, the sheath is obliterated by fibrous tissue. This is followed by the appearance of rice or melon bodies as a result of caseation. The tendons, at the end, may consist only of a few strands of tissue leading to spontaneous rupture [9]. Rice or melon bodies were first described by Reise in 1895 [11] and consist of fibrinous masses (tubercles) and are believed to be due to micro-infarction following inflammation and ischemia of the synovial sheath and are present in about 50% of cases [7, 12]. According to a study by Woon et al. [13], the presence of rice bodies together with millet or melon seed shaped lesions are diagnostic of tuberculous tenosynovitis. For this reason, one should be aware of the importance of loose bodies when excising harmless-looking wrist and palmar lesions [13].
Diagnosis of tuberculous tenosynovitis is usually delayed due to the numerous differential diagnosis including other atypical mycobacterial infections, tuberculosis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), pyogenic infections, brucellosis, foreign body tenosynovitis, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis [7, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17]. Ultimately, diagnosis is by open biopsy and culture of the histopathological specimen. This however takes time and may delay the diagnosis and treatment. Hence when a provisional diagnosis of tuberculous tenosynovitis is made, it is imperative to start anti-tuberculous treatment while awaiting the result [4]. The recommended management especially when the condition is associated with clinical evidence of carpal tunnel syndrome is surgical (that is excision biopsy involving thorough curettage, lavage, and synovectomy) [18, 19] to decompress the median nerve. Local recurrence is possible and about 50% of cases recur within 1 year of treatment [20].
In conclusion, tuberculous tenosynovitis of the wrist is uncommon. However, in developing countries like Ghana where tuberculosis is common, tuberculous tenosynovitis should be considered among the possible causes of chronic tenosynovitis around the wrist. This is to prevent delay in diagnosis and treatment with its attendant complications. Excision biopsy and anti-tuberculous chemotherapy should be considered without delay when it is associated with established clinical signs and symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome.
Notes
Authors’ contributions
PKB, DB, AO, DA, SL, and NAB were part of the diagnosis, work up for surgery, follow up and preparation of the manuscript. In addition, NAB supervised the medical treatment of the patient. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Acknowledgements
We will like to acknowledge Mr. Henry Holbrook-Smith, a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, for taking his time to review the manuscript.
Competing interests
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Availability of data and materials
All data generated or analysed during this study are included in this published and the following link: https://figshare.com/s/f4aab7a99d7a2b4e8b94.
Consent for publication
Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this case report and accompanying images.
Ethical approval and consent to participate
Not applicable.
Funding
None.
Publisher’s Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
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