Mid-Term Results of Arthroscopic Synovectomy for Pigmented Villonodular Synovitis of the Hip.

PURPOSE: To analyze mid-term outcomes after arthroscopic synovectomy of both diffuse and nodular hip pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS).

METHODS

This is a retrospective case series of patients that underwent hip arthroscopy for hip PVNS with a single senior surgeon between 2007 and 2016. Inclusion criteria were magnetic resonance imaging evidence, arthroscopic visualization, and/or histologic confirmation of PVNS; and a minimum of 3 years of follow-up. Concomitant pathology such as femoroacetabular impingement also was treated at the time of surgery. Primary outcome measures were recurrence of hip PVNS and the rate of revision hip surgery. Secondary outcomes were complications, visual analog scale pain score, pain relief, and patient satisfaction, and 6 patient-reported outcome measures were collected at latest follow-up.

RESULTS

In a case series of 14 patients consisting of 6 (42.9%) male and 8 (57.1%) female patients, the mean operative age was 32.69 ± 12.73 years with a mean follow-up was 6.66 ± 1.87 years. PVNS type was determined intraoperatively: 5 (35.7%) patients had diffuse hip PVNS and 9 (64.3%) had nodular type. There was only 1 case (7.14%) of recurrence that was treated arthroscopically and no cases (0%) progressed to revision open synovectomy or arthroplasty. Mean patient-reported outcome measure scores were notable for a modified Harris Hip Score of 74.08 ± 16.84. The mean visual analog scale pain score decreased by 4.9 ± 1.7, which was significant with a P < .001, with a larger decrease in patients with localized type.

CONCLUSIONS

This study presents a large case series of hip PVNS managed arthroscopically with mid-term follow-up of slightly over 6.5 years. The survival rate was 93%, with only 1 (7%) recurrence and 0 (0%) progression to revision open synovectomy or arthroplasty with 0 (0%) complications. We conclude that arthroscopic synovectomy is a reliable and effective treatment of hip PVNS.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Case Series, Level IV.