[Isolated gonococcal tenosynovitis. Case report and review of literature]

Abstract

Isolated gonococcal tenosynovitis is rare, and is part of disseminated gonococcal infection. It is due to blood-borne contamination of the flexor tendon sheath. One to 3% of gonococcal mucosal infections develop disseminated infections. Tenosynovitis is present in two-thirds of cases, sometimes in association with arthritis and skin rash. We report a case of a 26-year-old man with isolated gonococcal tenosynovitis of the thumb, with no other medical history, occurring 15 days after unprotected sex. Except local inflammatory signs of the thumb extending to the wrist, and a biological inflammatory syndrome, the patient had no arthritis, skin or mucosa symptoms. Immediate surgical drainage was performed under antibiotic cover with 3rd generation cephalosporin. All bacteriological samples were negative, except for one blood culture positive for Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Thus, in case of an asymptomatic patient with suspected gonococcal infection through a mucus portal, a precise examination, including geographical and sexual history, and a review of screening are recommended. Although the pathophysiology of gonococcal tenosynovitis is still obscure, the best prevention remains that of sexually transmitted diseases.