Table 1

Reported cases of tuberculous knee arthritis in children

Author (reference)
Number of Cases
Number with joint/bone infection only
Appendicular joints involved
Presentation age
Diagnosis of tuberculosis
Chest radiograph
Skin test

Southwood (18)
1
1
Knees, ankles
2 years
Positive culture from bone
Hilar adenopathy; no parenchymal involvement
Positive
Jacobs (14)
1
1
Knee
4 years
Histopathology (giant cells); cultures and stains for TB negative
Not stated
Initially negative then positive
Jacobs (14)
1
0
Knee
8 months
Positive synovial fluid culture
Positive
Initially negative then positive
Haygood (12)
45
Unknown
Hip – 18
Knee – 17
Ankle – 5
Shoulder – 2
Midfoot, elbow, wrist, hand – 1 each
6 months to 19 years
Positive culture, histopathology and/or guinea pig inoculation
Not stated
Not stated
Al-Matar (7)
1
1
Knee
2 years
Positive culture and histopathology
Normal
Positive
Al-Matar (7)
1
1
Knee
6 years
Positive culture and histopathology
Normal
Positive
Hoffman (13)
52
24
Knees
8 months to 13 years
Predominantly histopathologic but details not stated
Normal in 24 (47%)
91% Positive
Sawhney (17)
1
1
Knees, elbow, shoulder
13 years
Positive culture, polymerase chain reaction and histopathology
Normal
Positive
Aloui (8)
1
1
Knee
1 year
Histopathology of bone lesion
Normal
Negative
Aloui (8)
1
1
Knee
2 years
Histopathology and positive culture of bone lesion
Normal
Not stated
Uzel (19)
1
1
Knee
9 years
Synovial histopathology; cultures negative
Normal
Positive
Rajakumar (present case)
1
1
Knee
2 years
Synovial fluid culture
Normal
Initially negative then positive

Rajakumar and Rosenberg Pediatric Rheumatology 2008 6:15   doi:10.1186/1546-0096-6-15