title: Role of early synovectomy of the knee joint in rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: The prospective study of 32 knees in 26 patients with rheumatoid arthritis was carried out with an average followup of 3 years. Relief of pain and control of inflammation locally were obtained in 22 of 32 knees (69%). Articular cartilage was preserved in 20 of 28 knees (71%) and the synovitis recurred in 9 knees (28%), 7 of which showed progressive loss of cartilage. Therefore, it appears that synovectomy, if performed at a stage in which articular cartilage is still normal and after medical therapy has failed, is a very effective method for preserving articular cartilage and controlling inflammation locally. However, with a longer followup the disease with loss of articular cartilage will recur in a large number of cases. In patients whose disease progresses rapidly, no form of therapy effectively controls joint destruction.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000601:surgery*; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008722:Methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D009068:Movement; D010146:Pain / Q000601:surgery; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography; D012008:Recurrence; D000074402:Synovectomy; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013585:Synovitis / Q000601:surgery; D013997:Time Factors