[Effectiveness of arthroscopic synovectomy in treatment of pigmented villonodular synovitis of knee].

OBJECTIVE

To explore the effectivness of arthroscopic synovectomy in the treatment of pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) of the knee.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was conducted on 13 patients with PVNS of the knee treated with arthroscopic synovectomy between June 2008 and December 2011, including 8 left knees and 5 right knees. There were 9 males and 4 females, aged 25-45 years (mean, 33 years). Of 13 patients, 5 had a history of trauma, and 8 had no history of trauma. The disease duration ranged from 4 months to 80 months (mean, 44 months). The preoperative Lysholm score was 45.3 +/- 4.2, and International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) 2000 score was 46.8 +/- 4.9. All patients underwent arthroscopic synovectomy and postoperative radiotherapy.

RESULTS

The pathological examination proved PVNS in all cases. All incisions obtained healing by first intention after operation. There was no neurovascular injury or knee infection. The average follow-up period was 21.8 months (range, 12-30 months). The Lysholm score was 90.2 +/- 7.4, and IKDC2000 score was 87.8 +/- 3.8 at last follow-up, showing significant differences when compared with preoperative scores (t = 22.64, P = 0.00; t = 24.32, P = 0.00). No recurrence was observed during follow-up.

CONCLUSION

Arthroscopic synovectomy can be effective in the treatment of PVNS of the knee, and it has the merits of minimal invasion, rapid function recovery of the knee joint, and satisfactory results. So it is a safe, promising, and minimal invasive procedure in treatment of PVNS.