Results of elbow synovectomy in rheumatoid arthritis

✍ Scribed by V. Vahvanen; A. Eskola; J. Peltonen

• Publisher: Springer
• Year: 1991
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 974 KB
• Volume: 110
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1434-3916
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00395798

✦ Synopsis

Synovectomy of the elbow was performed on 54 patients (70 elbows) with rheumatoid arthritis. The mean follow-up time was 7.5 years (range 1.5-22 years). Clinical evaluation showed marked relief of pain in 28 elbows (40%). In 27 cases (38.5%) the pain was moderate but still less than preoperatively. Severe pain was recorded in 15 cases (21.5%) at the time of check up. As to postoperative range of movement, the mean flexion arc was 114.5 ° and the mean rotation arc 134.5 ° . Latitudinal instability was recorded up to 5 ° in 33 (47%) elbows, up to 10 ° in 20 (28.5%), up to 15 ° in 6 (8.5%), and more than 15 ° in 11 (16%). The mean carrying angle was 10 ° in valgus. Measurement of strength in flexion and extension showed a reduction of approximately 50% compared to age-matched healthy controls. Reoperations were performed in 10 elbows (14%); the interval between the primary synovectomy and second operation in these cases averaged 8 years.