SYNOVECTOMY AND RADIAL HEAD EXCISION IN RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS - 11 PATIENTS FOLLOWED FOR 14 YEARS

A radial head excision and partial synovectomy of the elbow through a lateral approach was performed in 24 patients suffering from rheumatoi d arthritis. At follow-up examination of 11 patients (12 elbows) 14 ye ars postoperatively, 10 patients were still satisfied with pain reduct ion and improved elbow motion. 2 elbows had been reoperated on. Radiog raphic destruction, assessed by the Larsen index, was, on average, 2.9 preoperatively and 3.8 at follow-up.