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...

We describe a case of highly refractory synovial chondromatosis, which recurred despite four arthroscopic synovectomies, a chemical synovectomy, two open synovectomies and an arthrodesis. A review of the literature revealed one similar case. Both presented with marked joint stiffness suggesting a poor prognosis. Although arthrodesis may relieve short-term symptoms it does not prevent further re...

Pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVS) is an uncommon, usually monoarticular disorder encountered mainly in adults. A boy and a girl, both 7 years old, were referred because of recurrent knee effusions. Both were medically treated for other rheumatic disorders for five years. PVS was diagnosed by arthroscopy and synovectomy was curative in both cases.