Synovectomy

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Surgical removal of the synovial membrane of a joint

title: "Synovectomy" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["surgical-removal-procedures", "orthopedic-surgical-procedures"] description: "Surgical removal of the synovial membrane of a joint" topic_path: "general/surgical-removal-procedures" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synovectomy" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Surgical removal of the synovial membrane of a joint ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox interventions"]

Field	Value
Name	Synovectomy
ICD9
::

Synovectomy is the surgical removal of the synovial tissue surrounding a joint. This procedure is typically recommended to provide relief from a condition in which the synovial membrane or the joint lining becomes inflamed and irritated and is not controlled by medication alone. If arthritis (inflammation of the joint) is not controlled, it can lead to irreversible joint damage. The synovial membrane or "synovium" encloses each joint and also secretes a lubricating fluid that allows different joint motions such as rolling, folding and stretching. When the synovium becomes inflamed or irritated, it increases fluid production, resulting in warmth, tenderness, and swelling in and around the joint.

A synovectomy is a procedure often suggested for those with rheumatoid arthritis or other forms of inflammatory arthritis when non-operative treatments have failed. This procedure can be performed in several ways, namely surgical synovectomy, chemical synovectomy and radiological.

The surgical procedure can be performed arthroscopically{{Cite journal | date = May 1, 2002 | title = Arthroscopic synovectomy: state of the art | url = | journal = Haemophilia | volume = 8 |issue=3 | pages = 372–374 | doi = 10.1046/j.1365-2516.2002.00606.x | pmid = 12010436 | s2cid = 36342078 | access-date = | last1 = Wiedel | first1 = J. D.

Indications

Synovectomy is indicated in following conditions:

Inflammatory arthritis: rheumatoid arthritis, hemophilia, chondromatosis
Synovial tumors: pigmented villonodular synovitis
Septic arthritis
Joint stiffness

Synovectomy is to be performed before cartilage damage has occurred. Conditions, where Synovectomy can provide some relief, are listed below.

Pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS)

PVNS (Pigmented villonodular synovitis): is a joint problem that usually affects the shoulder, hip or knee. It can also affect the elbow, ankle, and hand or foot. In pigmented villonodular synovitis, the synovial joint lining becomes swollen and grows. It may harm the bone around the joint. The lining also makes extra fluid that can cause swelling and make movement difficult and painful.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)

Rheumatoid arthritis is a (chronic) long-term disease that causes pain, stiffness, swelling, decreases the range of motion of many joints. It affects any joint in the body commonly hands, knees, wrists, shoulder, elbow, hips, feet.

In rheumatoid arthritis (RA) the synovial membrane becomes inflamed, it can become edematous and thicken with inflammatory exudates. Moreover, similar conditions can also be seen in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis. Synovectomy for RA{{Cite journal |author1=Mongan, Edward S. |author2=Boger, William M. |author3=Gilliland, Bruce C. |author4=Meyerowitz, Sanford | date = Nov 1, 1970 | title = Synovectomy in rheumatoid arthritis | url = | journal = Arthritis & Rheumatology | volume = 13 |issue=6 |pages=761–768 | doi = 10.1002/art.1780130605 | pmid = 5495388 | access-date = | doi-access =free |author1=Gleb, Slobodin |author2=Itzhak, Rosner |author3=Nina, Boulman |author4=Michael, Rozenbaum | date = Jan 1, 2008 | title = Osmic acid synovectomy in the era of biologics | url = | journal = Rheumatology International | volume=28 |issue=3 | doi = | pmid = | access-date =

Variants

Synoviorthesis, or medical synovectomy, may be achieved with the intra-articular injection of several substances:

Osmic acid, rifampicin and rifamycin (i.e. chemosynovectomy)
Yttrium-90, erbium-169, dysprosium-165 and rhenium-186 (radiosynovectomy)

References

"Rheumatoid Arthritis | Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment - Healthclues".
Hochberg Marc C., Silman Alan J. ''CHAPTER 40: Aspiration and injection of joints.../Synoviorthesis'' in: ''Rheumatology'', 2008, Elsevier Limited. {{ISBN. 978-0-323-04430-1
Ray, Charles E.. (2008-04-21). "Pain Management in Interventional Radiology". Cambridge University Press.
(2011-04-27). "Current and Future Issues in Haemophilia Care". Wiley-Blackwell.

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