Arthroscopic Treatment of Diffuse Pigmented Villonodular Synovitis of the Knee: Complete Synovectomy and Septum Removal—Midterm Results

BackhroundsThe purpose of this study was to evaluate and describe the clinical results of completearthroscopic synovectomy through the four arthroscopic portals in the knees affected bydiffuse pigmented villonodular synovitis (DPVNS). Between 2009 and 21 ,2012 patients(15 menand 6women)with the diffuse formof PVNS of the kneewere enrolled in the studyafter qualification. The clinical diagnosis was confirmed by magnetic resonance imagingand postsurgical pathologic examination. All patients underwent complete synovectomythrough posteromedial, posterolateral, anteromedial, and anterolateral portals. Eachpatient was evaluated before treatment and followed up for a minimumof 5 years (range:79–60 months) using the Lysholm score and International Knee Documentation Committee(IKDC) score. Both Lysholm score and IKDC scores were significantly improved in all studyparticipants.Nocases of clinical recurrence, infection, joint stiffness, or neurovascularlesions were observed. This study showed that an attentive arthroscopic synovectomy is asafer alternative with better clinical outcomes, with no clinical recurrences.