Seventeen years to mobility: delayed total knee arthroplasty for post-tuberculous arthritis—A case report

Abstract

Background: Tuberculous arthritis of the knee is an uncommon manifestation of extrapulmonary tuberculosis that can be misdiagnosed and lead to severe joint destruction. Case presentation: We report a rare case of a 40-year-old Buddhist male patient from Bhutan with an 18-year history of progressive knee stiffness and pain following sports-related knee injury, later diagnosed as tuberculous arthritis. After delayed diagnosis and treatment, the patient underwent successful total knee arthroplasty performed by an international surgical team. Result: Postoperatively, the patient regained 90° of flexion with full extension at 6 months, with no evidence of recurrence. Conclusion: This case highlights the importance of maintaining a high index of suspicion for tuberculous arthritis in endemic regions and illustrates how delayed but appropriate surgical intervention can restore function and quality of life.