Introduction. Synovectomy in children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) and psoriatic arthritis (PSA) is still subject of controversial discussion. Our results of arthroscopic synovectomy of the knee in children with chronic inflammatory joint disease are presented. Material. From 1989–1997 27 synovectomies were performed in 27 children with inflammatory arthritis (15 JRA, 12 PSA). Average age at surgery was 12. 5 y (2. 9–17. 8 y). Mean follow-up was 4. 9 years. Methods. Onset of disease and conservative therapy was documented. Each patient was physically and radiologically examined preoperatively and 24 children postoperatively (mean follow-up 4. 9 years). For arthroscopic shaver-assisted synovectomy of the knee we used minimum 4 portals and normally 6 portals (2 anterior, 2 suprapatellar and 2 posterior portals). In addition to the physical examination we used a special clinical score (Laurin 1974). We compared the pre- and postoperative limits of active and passive knee movement. We performed sonographs and radiographs of the infected joint. Radiography was classified following the Larsen-Scale. Patient and parents gave their opinion whether the operation was successful. Before surgery all children had intensive drug and physical therapy for 8–62 months (42 month). In the course of conservative treatment, knees had local joint treatment with triamcinolonhex-acetomid (THA), normally for three times before surgery. Preoperative X-rays showed Larsen stage I in 3 knee joints and Larsen stage 0 in the other knees. Results. In 85% of the children, we found good or excellent surgical outcome. 2 joints achieved fair and 2 joints poor outcome. Concerning subjective outcome 22 (82%) children had been very satisfied (56%) or satisfied (26%). 25 of the children’s parents would agree in the same surgical procedure again. In 6 knee joints we found recurrent synovitis. 2 of these knee joints were reoperated (30 and 22 month postoperatively with satisfying result), the other 4 joints were treated with THA i. a.. The 2 reoperations were regarded as poor result. We had no postoperative complications and the normal hospitalisation was 15 days. Prior to surgery, 12 knee joints had an average deficit of active knee extension of 10° (5–20°). Postoperatively, no extension deficit was found anymore in 25 of the knees. Compared to the contralateral knees, a flexion deficit of 10° (5–15°) was obtained postoperatively. At sonography, no joint effusion could be revealed. Postoperative X-rays showed no progression in Larsen stage. Outcome in children with oligoarthritis was better than in those with polyarthritic disease. Discussion.
