ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Long-term results of open elbow synovectomy for rheumatoid arthritis

Authors

Natsuko Nakagawa¹, Shuji Abe¹, Yasuhiro Saegusa¹, Shigeaki Imura¹, Hitoshi Kubo², Yasuro Nishibayashi² and Shinichi Yoshiya³

1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Konan Kakogawa Hospital, 1545-1 Saijo, Kanno-cho, Kakogawa 675-8545, Japan
2. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Miki-Sanyo Hospital, Miki, Japan
3. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan

Received:

06 March 2006

Accepted:

05 December 2006

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Abstract

Long-term results of open synovectomy of the elbow with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were reviewed in 15 elbows. The subjects were evaluated at two time points with average follow-up periods of 4 and 8.7 years, and the results were compared between the two follow-ups. The Mayo Clinic performance score showed significant improvement in pain, motion, and daily function from the intermediate to the long-term follow-up. Overall results were satisfactory with little time-dependent deterioration in radiological grading, confirming the long-term effectiveness of this procedure.

Key words

Long term results - Open synovectomy - Rheumatoid elbow