Arthroscopic Synovectomy of the Knee in Rheumatoid Arthritis

류마토이드 관절염에서 슬관절의 관절경적 활액막 절제술

There has been a controversy about the effectiveness of the synovectomy of the knee in the rheumatoid arthritis. So we studied to determine if the arthroscopic synovectomy of the knee was of benefit in the rheumatoid arthritis. We ana lysed 25 knees of 15 patients who underwent the arthroscopic synovectomy of the knee joint for their rheumatoid arthritis from Jun. 1995 to Oct. 1996. The average follow-up period was 20.1 months($12\~28$ months). The results were as follows; 1. Satisfactory results were obtained in 20 knees $(80\%)$ for the pain and the effusion each, 23 $(92\%)$ for the range of motion and 19 $(76\%)$ for the functional capacity. 2. In the overall results for the pain. effusion. range of motion and the functional capacity. we obtained excellent results in 14 knees $(56\%)$ and satisfactory results in 9 knees $(32\%)$. 3. In the patient's self assessment, 11 patients $(44\%)$ were delighted and 10 patients $(40\%)$ were satisfactory. 4. In the overall results according to the articular cartilage damage, satisfactory results were obtained in 15 $(93\%)$ out of 16 knees in Grade I and II, and 6 $(75\%)$ out of 8 knees in Grade III and IV. In conclusion, arthroscopic synovectomy could be one of very useful treatments for the rheumatoid knee. But further study is needed to get the long-term results of the synovectomy because there's many reports saying gradual decrease of good results with increasing time. And continuous and proper medical treatment including DMARDs, is needed to effectively control the rheumatoid arthritis even after the synovectomy.