The conservative treatment of tuberculosis of the elbow

The authors have applied conservative treatment in 21 cases of tuberculosis of the elbow with 12 months of specific chemotherapy and antibiotics and plaster immobilization for 3 months followed by rehabilitation. Four elbows were ankylosed at the end of treatment. Seventeen elbows had useful joint mobility In thirteen cases, there were more than 70 degrees of movement in flexion but the results were not so satisfactory as regards pronation and supination. The authors believe that conservative management gives better results than surgery by arthrodesis or resection.