Arthroscopic procedures for rheumatoid arthritis

【Objective】 To assess the effectiveness of treatment of synovectomy and joint debridement underarthroscope to rheumatoid arthritis. 【Methods】18 patients (34 joints) included 15 patients of two knees, 2 patientsof one knee and 1 patient of two ankles with rheumatoid arthritis had been treated with synovetomy and joint de-bridement uader arthroscope, combined with the antirheumatic drugs, mentality therapy and arthrosis got mell train-ing. 【Results】17 of 18 patients were followed up from one to three years, 4 patients (8 joints) were evaluated asexcellent, 9 patients(17 joints ) as good, the choiceness rate was 76.47%, 4 patients (7 joints) as fair (23.53%). Butall patients of the group are taking antirheumatic drugs of small dose. 【Conclusions】The operation with arthroscopehas a good result in ill forepart. Belated operation can only improve symptoms, but functional improvement is notideal. Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease of whole body. Synovectomy is an assuasive operation. It can minish thedosage of artirheumatic drugs for cortroling state of an illness, reduce the drug′s side- effect, but can not stop it.