A descriptive clinical evaluation of arthroscopic synovectomy in rheumatoid knees: a prospective study.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the clinical outcome of arthroscopic synovectomy for persistent rheumatoid synovitis of the knee joints. DESIGN Prospective clinical study. SETTING Kasturba Medical College Hospital, Manipal. PATIENTS Fifty two knee joints in 46 patients. MEASUREMENTS 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.