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Chemical synovectomy with sodium morrhuate in the treatment of symptomatic recurrent knee joint effusion

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of intra-articular sodium morrhuate injections in the treatment of recurrent knee joint effusions. Ninety-eight knees of 92 patients (f = 59, m = 33) with knee arthritis of heterogeneous etiology were treated with chemical synovectomy (CSO). Of those, 39 patients suffered from rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The mean follow-up was 29.8 months. Clinical outcome was evaluated by analyzing subjective patient satisfaction, activity level, pain severity on the basis of the Visual Analogue Pain Scale (VAS), Lysholm and Gillquist score, and the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS). Fifty-seven percent of all patients and 67% of patients diagnosed with RA were satisfied with CSO. No significant effects on patient satisfaction by CSO were noted in patients older than 40 years. Overall, VAS, Lysholm and Gillquist score, and KOOS improved significantly at final review. The intra-articular application of sodium morrhuate is an effective and safe measure in the treatment of recurrent symptomatic knee joint effusions in young patients suffering from recurrent knee joint effusions.

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Abbreviations

CSO:

Chemical synovectomy

KOOS:

Knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome score

RA:

Rheumatoid arthritis

RS:

Radiosynoviorthesis

VAS:

Visual analogue scale

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The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Regensburg, Asklepios Klinikum Bad Abbach, Kaiser Karl V Allee 3, 93077, Bad Abbach, Regensburg, Germany

    Jens Schaumburger, Stefanie Trum, Sven Anders, Johannes Beckmann, Sebastian Winkler, Hans-Robert Springorum, Joachim Grifka & Philipp Lechler

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  1. Jens Schaumburger
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  2. Stefanie Trum
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Correspondence to Philipp Lechler.

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Schaumburger, J., Trum, S., Anders, S. et al. Chemical synovectomy with sodium morrhuate in the treatment of symptomatic recurrent knee joint effusion. Rheumatol Int 32, 3113–3117 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-011-2142-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-011-2142-1

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