Primary synovial chondromatosis of the elbow

Very Few cases of primary synovial chondromatosis of the elbow have been re ported in the literature. This is a study concerning the late outcome of pr imary synovial chondromatosis in the elbows of 12 patients, TO men and 2 wo men, with a mean Follow-up of 16 years 10 months. The average age at the ti me of the initial complaint was 29 years. The histories of 10 patients reve aled elbow strain as a consequence of work-related activities. Surgery incl uded removal of loose bodies and partial synovectomy in all patients. A mod erate to severe osteoarthritis was found preoperatively in 5 of 12 patients and during follow-up in 7 of 10 patients. The degree of osteoarthritis det eriorated after surgery in 5 of these cases, depending on patient age, leng th of presurgical history, length of follow-vp, and strenuous activities. H owever, the functional deficiencies were usually moderate and had little si gnificance with respect to the activities of daily living. No recurrence of primary synovial chondromatosis was found.