Case: A 47-year-old male with swelling over the patella and associated pain, subsiding with medicines but recurring after a few days. Diagnosed as prepatellar bursitis by the family physician, it eventually turns out to be osteomyelitis of the patella. Treated with curettage, biopsy, and placement of biocomposite mixed with antibiotics. Intra-operative findings and histopathology confirmed tuberculosis of the patella. On follow-up after 6 years and the completion of anti-tuberculosis treatment, the patient showed full functional and radiological recovery without recurrence. Conclusion: Early treatment with antibiotics and surgery gives excellent results. Identifying it as a tuberculous osteomyelitis is challenging when the condition is closely resembles pre-patellar bursitis. Level of evidence: IV
MacLean S, Kulkarni S. Tuberculosis of the patella masquerading as prepatellar bursitis. Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 2013; 95(1):e17-e19. doi:10.1308/003588413X13511609955490.
Chatterjee R, Sabui K, Jaiswal A, Mandal J, Kumar M. Tuberculous osteomyelitis of the patella. J Orthop Trauma Rehabil. 2015; 19(1):55-57. doi:10.1016/J.JOTR.2014.10.003.
Prakash J, Vijay V. Tuberculosis of the patella imitating chronic knee synovitis. Case Reports. 2014; 2014:bcr2014203971. doi:10.1136/BCR-2014-203971.
Algarni AD. Prepatellar Bursal Infection Caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis with an In Situ Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Case Report and Comprehensive Literature Review. Case Rep Infect Dis. 2019; 2019:1-4. doi:10.1155/2019/4536714.
Saxena S, Patel P, Patel D, Shah A. Tuberculosis or Not Tuberculosis: Temporal Evolution of Patellar Tuberculosis. Indian J Musculoskelet Radiol. 2020; 2:62. doi:10.25259/IJMSR_5_20-19.
Goyal D, Sharma P. Isolated Tuberculosis of the Patella. Bull Hosp Joint Dis. 2014; 72((3)):237-241.
Singh R, Gupta R. Tuberculosis of the Patella-A case report. Ind J Orthop. 2004; 38(189):e90.
Khezami K, Bennour MA, Basssalah E, Lahssini W, Brahim N Ben, Annabi H. Primary patella tuberculosis mimicking pre-patellar bursitis: A case report and review of the literature. Int J Surg Case Rep. 2021:86:106367. doi:10.1016/j.ijscr.2021.106367.
Fnini S, Hassoun J, Garches A, Largab A. Patella tuberculosis: A case report. Orthop Traumatol Surg Res. 2009; 95(8):649-651. doi:10.1016/J.OTSR.2009.10.004.
Chouhan DK. Patellar Tuberculosis presenting as an Osteolytic Lesion. J Postgrad Med Educ Res. 2013; 47(4):221-222. doi:10.5005/jp-journals-10028-1089.
Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine. Indian J Pediatr. 1942; 9(3):147-154. doi:10.1007/BF02816934.
Patil, S. Suresh (2024). Ambiguity of Primary Patellar Tuberculous Osteomyelitis as a Pre-Patellar Bursitis: A Case Report. The Archives of Bone and Joint Surgery, 12(6), 436-440. doi: 10.22038/abjs.2024.77845.3597
MLA
Patil, S. Suresh. "Ambiguity of Primary Patellar Tuberculous Osteomyelitis as a Pre-Patellar Bursitis: A Case Report", The Archives of Bone and Joint Surgery, 12, 6, 2024, 436-440. doi: 10.22038/abjs.2024.77845.3597
HARVARD
Patil, S. Suresh (2024). 'Ambiguity of Primary Patellar Tuberculous Osteomyelitis as a Pre-Patellar Bursitis: A Case Report', The Archives of Bone and Joint Surgery, 12(6), pp. 436-440. doi: 10.22038/abjs.2024.77845.3597
CHICAGO
S. Suresh Patil, "Ambiguity of Primary Patellar Tuberculous Osteomyelitis as a Pre-Patellar Bursitis: A Case Report," The Archives of Bone and Joint Surgery, 12 6 (2024): 436-440, doi: 10.22038/abjs.2024.77845.3597
VANCOUVER
Patil, S. Suresh Ambiguity of Primary Patellar Tuberculous Osteomyelitis as a Pre-Patellar Bursitis: A Case Report. The Archives of Bone and Joint Surgery, 2024; 12(6): 436-440. doi: 10.22038/abjs.2024.77845.3597