Tuberculous Hip Joint Infection following Internal Fixation of a Subcapital Fracture

A 62-year old male patient underwent uneventful internal fixation of a sub-capital hip fracture four years previously. Due to aseptic necrosis of the femoral head, the screws were removed. Biopsy demonstrated caseous material and cultures were sterile. Six weeks later, when the patient was re-admitted for total hip replacement, tubercular infection of the hip was apparent. This case describes a queiscent tubercular infection of the hip joint complicating internal fixation of a hip fracture. The infection was activated following hardware removal. To our knowledge this is the first described case of tubercular infection complicating internal fixation of the hip.