Abstract
From 1987 to 1992, arthroscopic synovectomy was performed on 78 knees in 50 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The clinical results of 27 knees in 20 patients, 19 females and 1 male, who were followed up at least 2 years are reported. Their average age was 59.5 years and the average follow-up period was 47 months. Ten knees (37.0%) needed re-synovectomy during the follow-up period. All knees were evaluated by JOA score and Larsen's X-ray grading.
After arthroscopic synovectomy, the JOA score was improved (p<0.05) and pain remarkably so (p<0.001), but other scores were unchanged. X-ray films showed that slight rheumatoid changes had progressed in 11 knees (40.7%) . Although there were some cases of re-operation, arthroscopic synovectomy for rheumatoid knee joint is useful when arthritis cannot be controlled by medication.
