The aim of our work is to analyze the epidemiological, clinical, and evolutionary aspects of the tuberculosis of the hand and the wrist through our experience in the management of 51 cases. This is a retrospective study of 51 patients with tuberculosis of the hand and the wrist diagnosed and treated between 1967 and 2016. All patients had a detailed general and local examination completed with standard radiography of the hand and the wrist, a full blood count, an ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate), an intradermal tuberculin reaction and a chest radiography. All our patients were addressed to initiate the antibacillary chemotherapy. Our functional results were evaluated at an average follow-up of four years.

A peak of tuberculosis of the hand and the wrist was noticed between 2006 and 2010 in our department. There were 30 males and 21 females with a mean age of 49 years. The main clinical picture was the tenosynovitis in 70% of the cases, while 26% of the patients had osteoarthritis of the wrist and only four percent had a digital osteoarthritis. Histological study confirmed the diagnosis in 88% of the cases. Good functional results were obtained in 29 cases (56%) — 22 patients regained a complete normal function of the joints and seven patients had an incomplete function with minor sequelae. A joint stiffness was noticed in 26% of the patients, and a total ankylosis in the remaining 18% of the cases. Tuberculosis of the hand and the wrist remains a rare affection that should be always evoked in endemic areas. The most suggestive clinical, radiological and biological signs of this affection are not frequent. A full healing with good functional results can only achieved by a well led, early antibacillary chemotherapy. Tuberculosis of the hand and the wrist remains a rare affection that should be always evoked in endemic areas. The most suggestive clinical, radiological and biological signs of this affection are not frequent. A full healing with good functional results can only achieved by a well led, early antibacillary chemotherapy.