J Korean Orthop Assoc.  2006 Dec;41(6):994-1001.

Arthroscopic Treatment of Pigmented Villonodular Synovitis of the Knee

• Choi NY
• Cheong HK
• Koh HS
• Han CW
• Park SJ
• Han SK
• Choi WH
• Song HS

Abstract

PURPOSE
To evaluate the efficacy of arthroscopic synovectomy through the direct posterior-posterior approach in pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) of the knee.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Between January 1997 and May 2004, twenty-one patients underwent an arthroscopic synovectomy for PVNS of knee. The mean follow-up period was 35 months. The arthroscopic and MRI findings revealed the localized form of PVNS in six patients and the diffuse form in fifteen patients. All patients underwent an arthroscopic examination and synovectomy through the direct posterior-posterior approach. The clinical results were evaluated by the range of motion, Lysholm knee score, and the knee pain score using the visual analogue scale (minimum 0-maximum 10).
RESULTS
Among the fifteen cases with the diffuse form, three cases (14%) recurred and had secondary arthroscopic total synovectomy. One cases recurred again. Therefore, radiation therapy was performed. The Lysholm knee score improved from 62.5 to 87.3, and the VAS score improved from 5.9 to 1.8. Three patients had a mild limitation in knee motion. However, the others had full range of motion of the knee at the last follow-up.
CONCLUSION
Arthroscopic synovectomy through the direct posterior-posterior approach could be a useful method for the treatment of PVNS of the knee, and can be used as an effective therapeutic tool particularly in posteromedial or posterolateral lesions.

Keyword

Knee; Pigmented villonodular synovitis; Arthroscopic synovectomy; Posterior-posterior approach

MeSH Terms

Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Knee*
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Range of Motion, Articular
Synovitis, Pigmented Villonodular*