title: Combined arthroscopic synovectomy and radiosynoviorthesis in the treatment of chronic non-specific synovitis of the knee.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic non-specific synovitis has a higher recurrence rate with arthroscopic synovectomy due to the insufficient removal of all pathological tissues. Neither has radiosynoviorthesis been sufficiently effective in treatment in contrast to cases of chronic specific synovitis such as rheumatoid arthritis. This study aimed to investigate the efficiency of combined arthroscopic and radionuclide synovectomy in chronic non-specific synovitis of the knee with the evaluation of clinical and radiological results.
  
  
  METHODS
  14 knees of 14 patients (11 female, 3 male) diagnosed as chronic non-specific synovitis were treated with arthroscopic subtotal synovectomy combined with radiosynoviorthesis. The efficiency was evaluated retrospectively by comparing preoperative and postoperative modified cincinnati knee score, Visual Analogue Scale, joint USG and MRI. The mean age was 29.2 ± 10.3 years and the mean follow-up period was 30.3 ± 3.7 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Clinical parameters such as pain, limitation of motion and effusion were regressed. Daily activities at the final follow-up were significantly better than in the preoperative period. The mean modified cincinnati knee score of the patients increased from 25.8 ± 8.7 preoperatively to 67.8 ± 13.4 postoperatively (p = 0.002). The mean VAS score was 7.2 ± 1.1 preoperatively and 1.3 ± 0.8 postoperatively (p = 0.003). Clinically and radiologically on MRI there was no recurrence. Mean synovial membrane thickness was 4.5 ± 2.4 mm in the preoperative period. At the final follow-up, noticeable regression of synovial membrane thickness (2.1 ± 0.5 mm) was recorded in the knee joint USG (p = 0.015). No complications were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combination of arthroscopic subtotal synovectomy and radiosynoviorthesis can be an effective treatment modality for chronic non-specific synovitis of the knee.
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedics and Traumatology Department, Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, İbni Sina Hospital, Altındağ, Ankara, Turkey, akmeser@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ramazan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Akmeşe
authors.forename: Kadir Ilker
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Yildiz
authors.forename: Çetin
authors.initials: Ç
authors.lastname: Işik
authors.forename: Osman
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tecimel
authors.forename: Yenel Gürkan
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Bilgetekin
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Firat
authors.forename: Hilal
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Özakinci
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bozkurt
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001182:Arthroscopy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint; D008297:Male; D009683:Nuclear Medicine / Q000379:methods; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000074402:Synovectomy; D013585:Synovitis / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult