Synovial proliferative disorders: role of synovectomy.

Synovectomy is an effective procedure in many of the synovial proliferative diseases. It is the treatment of choice in pigmented villonodular synovitis and synovial chondromatosis. In addition, it may be a useful adjunct to treatment in carefully selected patients with rheumatoid arthritis and hemophilia. Synovectomy can now be accomplished effectively with arthroscopic techniques, and this has greatly diminished the previous morbidity and cost associated with open synovectomy. However, the indications for synovectomy remain the same, regardless of the technique.