title: Arthroscopically-assisted mini open partial synovectomy for the treatment of localized pigmented villonodular synovitis of the knee. A retrospective comparative study with long-term follow up.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to present the long-term results of treatment of localized pigmented villonodular synovitis (LPVNS) comparing two operative procedures of excision of the lesion-the arthroscopic and the arthroscopically assisted mini-open. We hypothesized that the latter approach allowed for treatment of LPVNS with acceptable recurrence rates, complication rates and functional outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 1990 and 2006, 21 patients with LPVNS were treated with partial synovectomy through an arthroscopically-assisted mini open technique (group A), and 23 patients were treated with an arthroscopic excision of the lesion (group B). All patients were clinically examined at one, three, and 12 months post-operatively and graded by the Lysholm knee score and the Ogilvie-Harris score.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean Lysholm score was improved from 58.7 ± 9 to 94.2 ± 7 for group A (p < 0.05) and from 57.4 ± 9.1 to 95.5 ± 8 for group B (p < 0.05). The mean Ogilvie-Harris score was improved from 7.2 ± 2 to 11.2 ± 0.9 for group A and from 7.1 ± 2 to 11.75 ± 0.5 for group B (p < 0.05). We encountered two cases of CRPS and one case of recurrence of the lesion in group A and no complications for group B.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Arthroscopically-assisted mini open partial synovectomy is a safe alternative treatment, especially for surgeons without extended experience in arthroscopic techniques. The arthroscopic localization of the precise position of the lesion and its subsequent mini-open excision is a safe and effective technique with very low morbidity and recurrence rate and equivalent functional outcome to fully arthroscopic excision due to limited incision.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective comparative study, Level III.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, 424 Military General Hospital, Peripheriaki Odos Efkarpias, Thessaloniki, Greece. EVI_DIM45@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Georgiannos
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, 424 Military General Hospital, Peripheriaki Odos Efkarpias, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Achilleas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boutsiadis
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Agios Pavlos General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Filon
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Agathangelidis
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Agios Pavlos General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Stergios
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Papastergiou
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, General Clinic, Blue Cross, Euromedica Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Karataglis
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, 424 Military General Hospital, Peripheriaki Odos Efkarpias, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Ilias
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bisbinas
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001182:Arthroscopy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000074402:Synovectomy; D013586:Synovitis, Pigmented Villonodular / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Arthroscopic synovectomy; Knee; Localized PVNS; Mini-open synovectomy; Recurrence; Surgical treatment