Treatment of refractory chronic Lyme arthritis with arthroscopic synovectomy.

Abstract

Of 20 patients who underwent arthroscopic synovectomy for refractory chronic Lyme arthritis of the knee, 16 (80%) had resolution of joint inflammation during the first month after surgery or soon thereafter, and they have remained well during the 3-8-year followup period. Three of these 16 patients who were more disabled preoperatively, still had mild functional limitation at long-term followup. The remaining 4 patients (20%) had persistent or recurrent synovitis. We conclude that arthroscopic synovectomy is effective in treating chronic Lyme arthritis in patients in whom the disease does not respond to antibiotic therapy.

• Authors: R T Schoen, J M Aversa, D W Rahn, A C Steere
• Journal: Arthritis and rheumatism (Arthritis Rheum) Vol. 34 Issue 8 Pg. 1056-60 (Aug 1991) ISSN: 0004-3591 [Print] United States
• PMID: 1859481 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Arthritis, Infectious (epidemiology, surgery)
• Arthroscopy (methods)
• Child
• Chronic Disease
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Knee Joint (surgery)
• Lyme Disease (epidemiology, pathology, surgery)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Synovectomy
• Synovial Membrane (pathology)