Multicenter evaluation of synovectomy in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Report of results at the end of three years.

A controlled multicenter evaluation of synovectomy in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis followed 59 patients for 3 years. Finger joints and knees were studied. After 1 year synovectomized joints were better than controls in several features. After 3 years these differences had disappeared in the fingers, but swelling remained less in synovectomized knees. Recurrences were as frequent in synovectomized as in control finger joints, but were slightly less frequent in synovectomized than in control knees. Radiologic bony erosions in fingers and knees of both groups progressed equally during the 3 years.