Arthroscopic treatment of localized synovial chondromatosis of the posterior knee joint

Unveiling the Dance of Crystals: A Surgical Odyssey in the Open Excision of Synovial Chondromatosis in the Right Knee

Within the synovial membrane, cartilaginous nodules form as a result of a relatively rare joint condition called synovial chondromatosis. This case study describes the open surgical treatment of a male patient, age 25, who had severe discomfort in his right knee. The patient had synovial chondromatosis. The choice for open surgery was made because of the large and difficult nature of the lesions, even though arthroscopic procedures are commonly used in the management of this problem. The patient's history included a restricted range of motion, edema, and chronic right knee discomfort. Multiple intra-articular loose bodies were discovered during the clinical examination and imaging examinations, which led to the decision to do surgery. Owing to the size and position of the chondromatous lesions, an open surgical technique was considered suitable. Given the favorable result in this young adult patient, open surgical management of synovial chondromatosis may be an effective treatment option, especially in cases with complicated or widespread involvement.

Arthroscopic Synovectomy and Removal of Loose Bodies in Synovial Osteochondromatosis of the Knee

Synovial osteochondromatosis is a benign process that most commonly affects the knee joint (70%). It is characterized by proliferative metaplasia of synovial membrane into chondrocytes, resulting in the formation of multiple cartilaginous nodules, which can detach from the synovium to become multiple intra-articular loose bodies. It usually involves the anterior compartment, including infrapatellar fat pad, suprapatellar pouch, and anterior interval, and rarely involves the posterior compartment of the knee. Treatment for synovial osteochondromatosis usually involves surgery, especially in the presence of locking symptoms or decreased range of motion. Arthroscopy has gradually replaced a traditional open approach, resulting in low morbidity, low postoperative pain, better cosmetic results, early recovery of range of motion, short rehabilitation course, and an early return to previous function. In case of involvement of the posterior compartment of the knee joint, arthroscopic access may be difficult. In this Technical Note, the technical details of arthroscopic synovectomy and removal of loose bodies in synovial osteochondromatosis of the knee is described. This arthroscopic technique can deal with the disease, involving both the anterior and posterior compartments of the knee joint.

De Novo Synovial Chondromatosis following Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Case Report

In this case report, we present a rare case of a female patient who developed pain and swelling after a total knee arthroplasty. An extensive diagnostic workup including serum and synovial testing to rule out infection was performed in addition to advanced imaging including an MRI of the knee, but it was only after an arthroscopic synovectomy that the diagnosis of secondary synovial chondromatosis was confirmed. The purpose of this case report is to highlight the occurrence of secondary synovial chondromatosis as a rare cause of pain and swelling after total knee arthroplasty, thereby assisting clinicians in providing prompt diagnosis, surgical treatment, and efficient recovery in the setting of secondary synovial chondromatosis after total knee arthroplasty.

Atypical synovial chondromatosis of the right knee: A case report

Synovial chondromatosis, also known as synovial osteochondromatosis, is a rare, benign condition characterized by the formation of multiple cartilaginous nodules in the synovium of facet spaces. Synovial chondromatosis affects many joints, the knee being the most common. The present report examined a 47-year-old male with symptoms of swelling and pain in the right knee, who was admitted to hospital in September 2015. Following admittance, arthroscopic explorations were conducted. Viscous fluid and multiple cartilage-like clumps were identified in the patient's joints during surgery. There was evidence of synovial hyperemia and edema in the inner and outer lateral recesses of the patellar bursa, accompanied by villous projections. Synovium debridement and removal of cartilage-like free masses were performed. Following 6-month follow-up, the motion of the right knee ranged from 0-150° and no further swelling or pain was experienced by the patient. Following arthroscopy, the international knee documentation committee function score improved from 70.6 to 89.4 points. The results of the present report indicate that arthroscopic exploration is an effective treatment for patients with synovial chondromatosis.

An unusual presentation of synovial chondromatosis of the knee in a 10-year-old girl

Synovial chondromatosis commonly occurs in the anterior compartment of the knee joint, predominantly in middle-aged men. It is relatively unusual in female children and is rarely encountered in the synovium beneath the meniscus. The present report describes a rare case of synovial chondromatosis that developed in the synovium just inferior to both menisci of the right knee in a 10-year-old girl. At this unusual age and location, there is a greater probability of missed diagnosis, due to the lack of definite informative incidence, and difficulty in finding the lesions during arthroscopic examinations. In the present case, multiple loose bodies were hidden by the meniscus, and thus, there were no structural abnormalities in the initial arthroscopic views before probing the meniscus. After careful inspection, we found numerous cartilaginous loose bodies and removed them as much as possible with arthroscopy.

Arthroscopic treatment of synovial chondromatosis at the knee posterior septum using a trans-septal approach: report of two cases

Synovial chondromatosis of the knee joint rarely develops in the posterior septum. Such cases are difficult to treat arthroscopically since the posterior septum is not readily accessible via standard portals. We report two cases of localized synovial chondromatosis in the posterior septum. We used a posterior trans-septal portal to arthroscopically remove the loose bodies and perform a concomitant synovectomy. The two cases were followed-up for 24 and 16 months after surgery, respectively, and the patients were found to be pain-free, have a full range of knee motion and showed no evidence of recurrence. A posterior trans-septal portal may be essential in some cases for treatment of synovial chondromatosis at the posterior septum.