# Shoulder Tuberculosis: Management of a Posteriori Diagnosis After a Reverse Prosthesis Implantation

## TL;DR

A patient with a reverse shoulder prosthesis later developed tuberculosis-related complications, which were successfully treated with antituberculosis therapy.

## Contribution

Highlights a rare case of post-implantation tuberculosis reactivation and its successful management.

## Key findings

- Tuberculosis was diagnosed retrospectively through culture, PCR, and pathology after prosthesis implantation.
- Medical antituberculosis therapy led to a favorable patient outcome over 12 months.
- The case shows atypical presentation of tuberculosis without initial clinical or imaging signs.

## Abstract

We report a rare case of reverse shoulder prosthesis implantation in a patient retrospectively showing a chronic tuberculous osteoarthritis and meningitis. In this atypical presentation, the patient presented only a chronic shoulder pain, with no clinical or imaging sign of tuberculosis. After the implantation of a reverse shoulder prosthesis, the patient presented a reactivation of a tuberculosis causing a meningitis. The diagnosis of shoulder osteoarthritis caused by M. tuberculosis was confirmed retrospectively on deep perioperative samples by standard culture, PCR, and positive pathology. The management of the patient consisted in 12 months of a medical antituberculosis therapy and showed a favorable outcome.