Pediatric Atypical Ulnar Tubercular Osteomyelitis with Diagnostic Dilemma.
Mahesh Kumar, Shah Waliullah, Sujeet Kumar Chaudhary et al.
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Case in brief
An 11-year-old girl developed isolated ulnar bone tuberculosis after minor trauma and was initially thought to have a traumatic fracture. Microbiological examination, including Ziehl-Neelsen staining, cartridge-based nucleic acid amplification testing, and culture, confirmed the diagnosis. Management included pus aspiration, sinus excision, daily wound care, weight-based antitubercular therapy, cast immobilization, and structured rehabilitation. She achieved radiological and functional recovery over 15 months.
What made this case unusual
Isolated ulnar tuberculosis in a child was initially mistaken for a fracture after minor trauma, creating a diagnostic dilemma.
Diagnostic / clinical pearl
In a child with an apparent ulnar fracture after minor trauma, atypical skeletal tuberculosis should remain a consideration; microbiological testing can establish the diagnosis.