Radical synovectomy with muscle release for the rheumatoid elbow

Synovectomy of the elbow in rheumatoid arthritis.

Twenty-five synovectomies of the elbow were performed in twenty-one patients with rheumatoid arthritis, and the patients were followed for two to eleven years. All patients had an advanced stage of the disease, with disintegration of cartilage and severe erosions of bone. The operations were performed by the same surgeon using the same technique. Follow-up studies revealed various degrees of im...

Rheumatoid arthritis of the elbow: The results of synovectomy.

The elbow joints are often involved in rheumatoid arthritis but it has been suggested that such involvement is not commonly a major cause of disability in the upper limb (Merle d’Aubign#{233} and Delbarre 1969, Torgerson and Leach 1970). It is perhaps this belief that has led to the relatively infrequent use ofoperative treatment for rheumatoid arthritis ofthe elbow, except as a late “salvage” ...

Synovectomy for rheumatoid arthritis.

Arthroscopic synovectomy of the elbow for rheumatoid arthritis. A prospective study.

The short-term assessment of 14 arthroscopic synovectomies of the elbow in 11 patients with rheumatoid arthritis showed that 93% achieved a short-term rating of excellent or good on the Mayo Elbow Performance Score. At the most recent assessment at an average of 42 months, however, only 57% maintained excellent or good results; four had required total elbow replacement. Although rehabilitation ...

Assesment of Arthroscopic Elbow Synovectomy Outcomes in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

OBJECTIVE To review functional outcomes of arthroscopic elbow synovectomy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. METHODS Between May 1999 and December 2005, 15 patients were submitted to elbow synovectomy using an arthroscopic approach. Three cases were bilateral, totaling 18 elbows. There were two male and 13 female patients. The mean age was 44 years and five months. The mean time of previo...