Advanced Shoulder Joint Tuberculosis Treated With Débridement and Closed Continuous Irrigation and Suction: A Report of Two Cases

Tuberculosis of the shoulder is rare and its diagnosis is likely to be delayed because its symptoms often resemble those of the primary frozen shoulder or rotator cuff syndrome. The standard treatment is principally antituberculous chemotherapy plus débridement, if necessary. In this report, we describe 2 patients with advanced shoulder joint tuberculosis that were treated by débridement and closed continuous irrigation and suction using normal saline followed by early range-of-motion exercise with satisfactory results. We emphasize that surgical débridement and closed continuous irrigation and suction, which is one of the standard treatment methods for severe or chronic musculoskeletal infection, should be considered in treating advanced shoulder joint tuberculosis.