Original Article
Long-term Results After Arthroscopic Treatment of Synovial Chondromatosis of the Shoulder

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arthro.2007.08.034Get rights and content

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to document the results of arthroscopic treatment for synovial chondromatosis of the shoulder with loose body removal and partial synovectomy. Methods: Five cases of shoulder arthroscopy performed for synovial chondromatosis were reviewed. Removal of loose bodies and partial synovectomy was performed in all cases. Follow-up of 4 to 9 years was obtained on these 5 patients. Results: The clinical result was very good for all patients. Radiologic signs of chondroma were observed in two patients. Revision surgery was not necessary in either case. Conclusions: The clinical results referring to the Constant and Murley score and subjective assessment were very good at 4 to 9 years following surgery. However, in two out of five subjects, radiographs revealed evidence of persisting or recurrent synovial chondroma at follow-up. Level of Evidence: Level IV, therapeutic case series.

Section snippets

Methods

Five patients with synovial chondromatosis of the shoulder were included into the retrospective study. Four males and one female patient were affected. The average age at presentation was 36 years (range, 29 to 39 years). Two left and three right shoulders were affected; all subjects were right-handed. The average period from onset of symptoms to arthroscopy was 6 years (range, 2 to 13 years). The primary presenting complaints were chronic pain (especially during abduction) and limited range of

Results

At follow-up, the Constant and Murley scores reported on all patients were very good. Scores on the affected side averaged 97 points (range, 91 to 100 points). Scores on the unaffected side were all 100 points (Table 1). The lower scores in the three patients were attributed to mild impairment of internal rotation of the shoulder (subject 4: dorsal surface of the hand to the twelfth vertebra; subject 5: dorsal surface of the hand to the third lumbar vertebra), abduction force (subject 5), and

Discussion

The standard method for treatment of synovial chondromatosis of the shoulder has been open arthrotomy for the removal of loose bodies and synovectomy.2, 4 Arthroscopic treatment for this disorder has rarely been reported and then only as isolated case reports.7, 12, 13 This study evaluated the arthroscopic treatment for synovial chondromatosis of the shoulder in a small group of patients.

The male prevalence and the age of our 5 patients with synovial chondromatosis of the gleno-humeral joint is

Conclusions

The clinical results referring to the Constant and Murley score and subjective assessment were very good at 4 to 9 years following surgery. However, in two out of five, subjects radiographs revealed the evidence of persisting or recurrent synovial chondroma at follow-up.

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    The authors report no conflict of interest.

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