Objective: To study clinical features of skeletal tuberculosis diagnosed in our laboratory over the last 10 years.
Methods: We carried out a retrospective observational study of 26 patients with osteoarticular tuberculosis recording clinical and microbiological data.
Results: Pain was the main clinical presentation. The median time from the onset of symptoms to the diagnosis was 8 months. Synovial fluid was the most common sample obtained. Bone disease and previous or concurrent pulmonary tuberculosis were the most important predisposing factors. The tuberculin test reaction was positive in 83.3% of the patients. The outcome was favorable in 69% of the patients. Weight-bearing joints were the most commonly involved sites.
Conclusions: A high degree of suspicion is still needed to avoid a delayed diagnosis that might complicate the outcome.