Synovial chondromatosis and chondrosarcoma of the hip: indications for surgical treatment.

Five cases of cartilaginous neoproliferation of the hip, of synovial origin, were treated by different surgical techniques. From the clinical point of view these cases can be classified as simple synovial chondromatosis and progressive synovial chondromatosis. The writers, on the basis of their own experience and on data collected from the literature, conclude that simple synovial chondromatosis should be treated by partial or total synovectomy, while progressive synovial chondromatosis should be treated by total synovectomy with or without arthroplasty with total hip prosthesis. Synovial chondrosarcoma should be considered a neoplasm with at least local malignancy and should be treated by wide surgery.