Reconstruction of a tuberculous thumb by free bone grafting. A case report.

Tuberculosis with secondary staphylococcal infection destroyed the right thumb and index phalanges of a 24-year-old farmer. Four months after starting antibiotic therapy the index finger was amputated, and the thumb reconstructed by excising the disorganized phalanges and transferring the index metacarpal as a free graft to replace them. No previous report of this technique has been traced. A concurrent infection of the patient's left tarsus was treated by triple arthrodesis.