Tuberculosis of the Bones and Joints

Bone and joint tuberculosis is common in developing countries, and surgeons in these countries are often faced with the dual problem of diagnosing and treating this disease. However, bone and joint tuberculosis has not yet completely disappeared from industrialized countries, either. Therefore, this book is also intended for orthopedic surgeons in industrialized countries, who, faced with the rare but characteristic problems posed by bone and joint tuberculosis, are searching for reliable solutions. The last comprehensive textbook on this subject appeared more than 20 years ago, and that was a third edition of a pre-war work. Advances in chemotherapy had made this edition out-of-date even before it was published. The need for a definite up-to-date textbook has therefore been acute. The present book has been written to fill that need, and is based not only upon 20 years experience with 700 cases, but also upon the results of clinical, bacteriologic, pathologic, and therapeutic research.