Open AccessTreatment of refractory chronic Lyme arthritis with arthroscopic synovectomy
Author(s) -
Schoen Robert T.,
Aversa John M.,
Rahn Daniel W.,
Steere Allen C.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
arthritis & rheumatism
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1529-0131
pISSN - 0004-3591
DOI - 10.1002/art.1780340817
Subject(s) - medicine , synovectomy , surgery , refractory (planetary science) , arthritis , synovitis , lyme disease , orthopedic surgery , arthroscopy , rheumatoid arthritis , physics , virology , astrobiology
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.