Long-term results of synovectomy in rheumatoid patients.

Seventy-eight knees in fifty-five rheumatoid patients were evaluated clinically and radiographically at an average of 14.1 years (range, ten to twenty-three years) after synovectomy. The functional result was excellent in seventeen, satisfactory in thirty-one, unsatisfactory in eighteen, and poor in twelve knees. Pain and recurrent effusions were significantly reduced after synovectomy, but the range of motion of the knee remained unchanged. Radiographs demonstrated progressive changes of degenerative joint disease but apparent arrest of inflammatory disease changes in about 67 per cent of the knees. We believe that synovectomy of the knee is a good treatment alternative for selected patients with early stage-I rheumatoid arthritis that has proved resistant to standard medical therapy.