Synovectomy of the Knee in Rheumatoid Arthritis / 대한정형외과학회잡지

ABSTRACT

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory systemic disease of young or middle aged adults, characterized by destructive and proliferative changes in the synovial membrane, periarticular structures, skeletal muscle and perineural sheath. Eventually joints are destroyed, ankylosed and deformed. Therefore the aim of treatment is to keep the inflammatory process at a minimum, thereby preserving joint motion, maintaining health of muscles supplying motor power about the joint, and preventing secondary joint stiffness and deformity. Much of the increasing enthusiasm for surgical treatment of rheumatoid arthritis revolves around preventing the destruction of cartilage and tendon simply by excising as much as possible of the tissue that produces the destruction, namely the inflamed synovial membrane. Synovectomy probably is the earlient and most rewarding procedure that can be done in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. For the period of 11 yesrs from March 1966 to December 1977, 16 cases of rheumatoid knees were treated by synovectomy and the results of clinical observation was as follows. 1. Synovectomy was performed in 16 knees of 13 patients and 11 patients were followed up. 2. Of 13 patients, 10 patients were female and 3 patients were male. 3. Peak age incidence was in the third decade (38.4%) and the postoperative results were more satisfactory in younger patients than in older patients. 4. Post operative range of motion was not specifically correlated to the duration of symptom. 5. Postoperative results were not specifically correlated to the laboratory findings. 6. Postoperative range of motion was satisfactory in 6 cases and was unsatisfactory in 5 cases.