Knee Synovitis

What is Synovitis ( knee swelling)

A protective membrane, called synovium, covers cartilage in your knee joint . The membrane surrounds a thick fluid, called synovial fluid, which lubricates your knee and helps it move smoothly. Synovitis occurs when the protective membrane becomes irritated or inflamed. Your knee swells as the synovium produces too much fluid.

Causes of Synovitis 

• Traumatic and repeated injuries commonly cause synovitis

• Arthritis (inflammatory & Age related)

• Gout

• Infection eg.tuberculosis( TB )

Symptoms of knee synovitis

• Pain and swelling with stiffness in the knee joint.

• Repeated or long standing swelling of knee joint

• May be increased skin temperature and redness over the area.

Diagnosis of knee synovitis

• Blood investigations

• Fluid aspirated from the knee joint and sent for testing.

• X ray & MRI

• Arthroscopic biopsy of knee jt membrane

Treatment for knee synovitis

• Treatment depends on the cause of the synovitis.
• If it is an injury, then the RICE principle of rest, ice, compression, and elevation should be applied and this is usually effective.
• If the cause is arthritic, then anti-inflammatory medications are usually successful.
• In cases caused other conditions (eg RA,TB,Gout) treatment of that condition is the primary concern

Can Arthroscopic surgery offer any benefit in treatment of knee synovitis

Definitely arthroscopic can play vital role in long standard cases those are not getting relief from any treatment.It can diagnose & treat the problem .

• Biopsy can be taken with small puncture to help in diagnosis
• Removal of synovium also helps a lot in long standing synovitis cases.
• Rheumatoid arthritis patient with repeated knee synovitis can be treated by Arthroscopy.