In a rare and challenging case, a 25-year-old man from Uzbekistan has regained mobility after living for over a decade with a knee joint that had become completely stiff due to advanced tuberculosis (TB) of the knee.

Doctors at Aakash Healthcare successfully treated the condition through a complex joint reconstruction surgery, restoring movement in what had effectively become a rigid, non-functional leg.

According to orthopedic specialists, the patient first developed a low-grade infection in his left knee at the age of 13. Though he received medication at the time, the pain never fully went away. 

Over the years, the stiffness worsened, and the knee gradually lost all flexibility. Everyday activities such as walking, climbing stairs, sitting in a car, and even basic bending of the knee became extremely difficult.

Speaking about the progression of the disease, Dr. Aashish Chaudhry, Head of Orthopaedics and Joint Replacement at the hospital, said the infection eventually led to end-stage Knee TB. By the time he was evaluated, the joint had fused completely. “His leg had become like a rod. Since the knee had not moved for nearly twelve years, the muscles had also weakened significantly,” he said.

Doctors noted that treating such a long-standing condition in a young patient required a carefully planned approach. Instead of leaving the joint fused, the surgical team opted for a special hinge implant to reconstruct the knee and create a new functional joint. 

However, surgery alone was not enough. Because the thigh muscles had become extremely tight due to years of inactivity, surgeons also performed an additional procedure to lengthen the muscle, allowing the knee to bend after surgery.

Recovery, doctors say, depends heavily on rehabilitation. The patient is now undergoing physiotherapy to strengthen muscles that had remained inactive for years. Specialists explained that consistent rehabilitation is crucial for restoring strength and mobility in such cases.

Dr. Aakarsh Mahajan, Associate Consultant in Orthopaedics and Joint Replacement, highlighted the importance of early diagnosis. He explained that timely treatment can often save the joint, but when the disease causes severe destruction, reconstructive surgery becomes the only option to restore function.

While TB is widely known as a lung disease, medical experts stress that extrapulmonary TB — which affects parts of the body other than the lungs — remains a serious concern.

 Data from the World Health Organization shows that an estimated 10.6 million people developed TB globally in 2023, with about 15–20% of cases being extrapulmonary.

Among these, skeletal or bone TB accounts for roughly 10% of extrapulmonary TB cases, and knee involvement represents nearly 8% of bone TB patients. In India, which continues to carry the world’s highest TB burden, over 2.8 million cases were reported in 2023 under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Experts estimate that extrapulmonary TB contributes to nearly one-fifth of the country’s total TB load.

Doctors also warn that knee TB is often misdiagnosed because it progresses slowly and does not show typical respiratory symptoms. Persistent pain in a single joint, especially in TB-endemic regions, should not be ignored.

Dr. Chaudhry emphasised that unexplained, long-term joint pain must be investigated early. Proper imaging, microbiological testing, and timely anti-tubercular therapy can prevent irreversible joint damage and lifelong disability — particularly in young and active individuals.