title: A descriptive clinical evaluation of arthroscopic synovectomy in rheumatoid knees: a prospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the clinical outcome of arthroscopic synovectomy for persistent rheumatoid synovitis of the knee joints.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective clinical study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Kasturba Medical College Hospital, Manipal.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty two knee joints in 46 patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The effect of the procedure and its influence in the progression of the disease process on knee joints were assessed in terms of reduction of pain, improvement in range of motion, improvement in functional activity and recurrence of synovitis with effusion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the average follow up period of 5 years, the patients showed appreciable improvement (90% of knee joints) until 3 years of follow up. At the end of 5 years of follow up, it reduced to about 75%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Arthroscopic synovectomy along with medical treatment can control the disease process and preserve the knee joint function for up to 3 years.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Karnataka, India. skraok@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Sharath K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: Sripathi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: A Monappa
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Naik
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000601:surgery*; D001182:Arthroscopy; D002648:Child; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007717:Knee / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D000074402:Synovectomy; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome