title: Surgical synovectomy in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis: the results obtained in a controlled study.
abstract: The authors report the long-term results obtained after 2 and 4 years in a controlled study conducted on surgical synovectomies performed in articular and extra-articular regions in rheumatoid arthritis. Out of a total of 157 patients submitted to surgery between 1977 and 1987 admitted to the study were 82 patients with bilateral symmetric localizations, but who had been submitted to synovectomy only unilaterally. The collection and interpretation of data showed that synovectomy is truly effective and that clinical improvements is not related to a spontaneous regression in the rheumatoid process. Surgery must be performed when the degree of osteocartilaginous deficit is absent or moderate. It does not avoid local recurrence, but it does obtain an antalgic effect, better joint excursion, and a slowing down in the destructive osteocartilaginous processes.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Chirurgia dell'Apparato Locomotore e Chirurgia D'Urgenza, Università, Napoli.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cozzolino
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gigliotti
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Giuzio
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Angrisani
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000074402:Synovectomy; D013997:Time Factors