phalangeal tuberculosis after mallet finger treatment: a case report

Introduction: skeletal involvements are less reported in tuberculosis and even less likely observed in fingers. fingers are rarely involved in adults and it often has been reported in children under 5 years old. most likely, a recent condition in adult patients is required to provoke reactivation of bacilli lodged in the bone during the original mycobacteremia of primary infection. case presentation: in this report, a 31 - year - old female patient, suffered from detached extensor tendon due to the fourth finger trauma, was diagnosed as a mallet finger and treated by closed percutaneous pining is introduced. the patient had chronic swelling and progressive pain in the same finger for six months after treatment. thecommonanti - inflammatory and antibiotic therapy was not successful. radiographic images of the ring finger demonstrated erosion and irregularity of the articular surfaces around the distal interphalangeal join (dip). she expressed a history of untreated cough and exposure to people with tuberculosis. a positive tuberculosis (tb) skin testwasdetermined withmorethan10mminduration. treatment with anti-tuberculosis medication regimen was successful and continued for 12 months. conclusions: skeletal tuberculosis should always be considered by physicians in endemic areas. aslow progression of the disease in skeletal involvement and lack of clinical suspicion can lead to misdiagnosis. using anti - tuberclusis medications for an appropriate period is effective in the disease control and treatment of patients.