Abstract
The purpose of this study was to evaluate and describe the clinical results of complete
arthroscopic synovectomy through the four arthroscopic portals in the knees affected
by diffuse pigmented villonodular synovitis (DPVNS). Between 2009 and 2012, 21 patients
(15 men and 6 women) with the diffuse form of PVNS of the knee were enrolled in the
study after qualification. The clinical diagnosis was confirmed by magnetic resonance
imaging and postsurgical pathologic examination. All patients underwent complete synovectomy
through posteromedial, posterolateral, anteromedial, and anterolateral portals. Each
patient was evaluated before treatment and followed up for a minimum of 5 years (range:
60–79 months) using the Lysholm score and International Knee Documentation Committee
(IKDC) score. Both Lysholm score and IKDC scores were significantly improved in all
study participants. No cases of clinical recurrence, infection, joint stiffness, or
neurovascular lesions were observed. This study showed that an attentive arthroscopic
synovectomy is a safer alternative with better clinical outcomes, with no clinical
recurrences.
Keywords
knee - pigmented villonodular synovitis - arthroscopic synovectomy