A case of tuberculosis of the ischium.

Tuberculous infection of the ischium is rare. Between the years 1901-1936 only seven cases were reported, all in French (Coeuilliez 1909, Sorrel and Sorrel-Dejerine 1932). In 1936 Kaplan described the first case in English, and later Magnusson (1938) reported further cases, also in English, from Sweden. He reported eight cases of osteitis of the ischium treated at Varberg between 1928-1936, seven in adults and one in a child aged six years. Five of these cases were, however, of uncertain etiology. Magnusson assessed the incidence of tuberculosis of the ischium as 02 per cent of all cases of bone tuberculosis. All the above authors drew attention to the insidious onset and invariable previous gluteal injury. Unexplained sciatic pain was often the first symptom. For extensive lesions, Milch (1935) of New York described excision of the ischium and its ramus by subperiosteal resection from the perineum.