A reactive synovitis secondary to intra-articular particles of silicone
elastomer developed in three patients who had undergone Silastic
hemiarthroplasty. In an attempt to duplicate this phenomenon, we used an
animal model in which finely ground particulate silicone elastomer was
introduced into the knee joints of adult New Zealand White rabbits. In
three of thirteen rabbits (p = 0.066) histological evidence of inflammatory
changes developed in the synovial tissue, similar to those seen in our
patients. Intraarticular particulate silicone elastomer created by abrasion
of a Silastic hemiarthroplasty may be responsible for the development of an
iatrogenic reactive synovitis.