[Peripheral tuberculous arthritis in Galicia].

We have evaluated the cases of tuberculous arthritis in peripheral joints (TAPJ) that had been diagnosed in our unit during the last twelve years. The diagnosis was made by synovial biopsy in 26 of 33 cases, and by synovial fluid culture in the remaining 7. TAPJ accounted for 2.4% of all forms of tuberculosis and for 6% of extrapulmonary cases diagnosed in our hospital during those years. In 54% of cases there were risk factors of tuberculous infection. The mean time from the onset of symptoms to the confirmation of the diagnosis was longer than one year. All cases had clinical features of monoarthritis, and the knee was the most commonly involved joint (42%). In the 16 investigated synovial fluids the mean cellular rate was 11060 cells/mm3. The most reliable diagnostic procedure was the histological confirmation with synovial biopsy, whereas the yield of synovial culture was 64% and that of staining techniques 40%. In 97% of cases the treatment was effective. Orthopedic surgery was required in 36% of cases, and 48% had sequelae.