title: Arthroscopic synovectomy.
abstract: This study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of knee synovectomy with arthroscopic technique. Nineteen patients with 25 operated knees were studied. All 25 knees had 6-month follow-up, 21 knees had 2-year follow-up, and 14 knees were evaluated at least 4 years after operation. After operation, patients were evaluated using clinical data including pain relief, functional capacity, range of motion, recurrent synovitis, and presence of effusion. Preoperative as well as follow-up weight-bearing radiographs were also studied to assess the results of this procedure. At 6 months' postoperative clinical evaluation, 96% of patients showed good results. At 2 years, 90% of patients were considered to have good results, and at 4 years, 57% of patients continued to do well. Of those knees studied radiographically, 81% showed no progressive radiographic changes at 2 years and 61.5% showed no deterioration at 4 years. Clinical results correlated well with radiographic results. Arthroscopic synovectomy yielded results similar to those previously published for open synovectomy, with less operative and postoperative morbidity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Lahey Clinic Medical Center, Burlington, MA 01805.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Smiley
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Wasilewski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000601:surgery*; D001182:Arthroscopy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D000074402:Synovectomy; D013997:Time Factors