Tuberculosis in the proximal humerus. A rare diagnosis in joint infections

The incidence of osteoarticular TB is much lower than that of the lung, representing 1-2% of TB cases and 10% of extrapulmonary TB cases, so it is often not considered for the differential diagnosis of patients with joint disease. Its diagnosis is difficult and is based on clinical, radiologica l, bacteriological and histological findings. Extrapulmonary lesions are paucibacillary and specimens, in most cases, difficult to obtain, so the diagnosis is often simply presumptive. Joint tuberculosis in early stages presents nonspe cific clinical and imaging manifestations. This can lead to the progression of the local disease, generating severe osteoarticular lesions and, finally, joint destruction. We present the case of a 60-year-old patient who underwent surgery due to clinical and imaging manifestations compatible with a rotator cuff tear, and whose torpid postoperative evolution led to the bacteriological diagnosis of proximal humerus tuberculosis.