Seventy-eight knees in fifty-five rheumatoid patients were evaluated
clinically and radiographically at an average of 14.1 years (range, ten to
twenty-three years) after synovectomy. The functional result was excellent
in seventeen, satisfactory in thirty-one, unsatisfactory in eighteen, and
poor in twelve knees. Pain and recurrent effusions were significantly
reduced after synovectomy, but the range of motion of the knee remained
unchanged. Radiographs demonstrated progressive changes of degenerative
joint disease but apparent arrest of inflammatory disease changes in about
67 per cent of the knees. We believe that synovectomy of the knee is a good
treatment alternative for selected patients with early stage-I rheumatoid
arthritis that has proved resistant to standard medical therapy.