Synovectomy of the rheumatoid knee does not prevent deterioration. 7-year follow-up of 83 cases.
Eighty-three knees in 65 patients were studied retrospectively 7 (3-11) years after synovectomy for rheumatoid arthritis. Half of all the knees had an osteotomy or prosthesis operation after a median interval of 4 years. Early synovectomy had been performed in 67 knees; half of these had a satisfactory result. Most of the late synovectomies were unsatisfactory. Our results support the opinion that deterioration of the rheumatoid knee cannot be prevented by early synovectomy. Late synovectomy is discouraged.
Doets
H C
HC
Department of Orthopedics, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Bierman
B T
BT
von Soesbergen
R M
RM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000074402:Synovectomy