OBJECTIVE: To present nine patients with ankylosis in their knees that were submitted to a total arthroplasty to lessen their pain and improve their functional limitation. For these patients, arthrodesis remained a possibility in the event of arthroplasty failure. INTRODUCTION: Ankylosis of the knee is a severe functional limitation that becomes worse when pain is present. Arthrodesis of the knee is a classical indication for such patients, since it resolves the pain; however, the severe functional limitation remains. METHODS: In the present study, we evaluated the clinical course of nine patients who underwent total arthroplasty of the knee, and were followed up for at least five years. RESULTS: The results demonstrate that all of the patients experienced a significant reduction in pain and some improvement in the degree of knee flexion and extension. CONCLUSION: Based on the latest follow-up, there has been no need to perform arthrodesis for any of our patients, showing that a total arthroplasty could be a option for treatment in knee ankylosis.

Os autores apresentam sete pacientes portadores de Sinovite Vilonodular Pigmentada Localizada (SVNPL) tratados através de ressecção artroscópica, entre o período de junho de 1994 e Outubro de 2001. À avaliação inicial, os sintomas variaram desde dor difusa, até um aumento do volume localizado, com ou sem bloqueio mecânico do movimento articular. A ressonância magnética auxiliou na localização das lesões e no controle pós-operatório. O diagnóstico foi confirmado pelo exame anatomo-patológico. Na última avaliação nenhum dos pacientes apresentou recidivas dos sintomas do pré-operatório, nem no exame por imagem com ressonância magnética. Apesar da casuística pequena, própria dessa afecção, os autores acreditam que a excisão artroscópica da SVNPL é um método eficaz, de baixa morbidade, proporciona remissão dos sintomas e com pouca possibilidade de recidivas.

The authors present a series of seven case reports of Localized Pigmented Villonodular Synovitis (LPVNS) treated by arthroscopy resection between June of 1994 and October of 2001. At the baseline evaluation, symptoms ranged from diffuse pain to localized swelling of the knee, with or without mechanical blockage of the joint. Magnetic Resonance helped in localizing the lesion and in the follow up evaluation. Diagnosis was confirmed through anatomicopathological examination. By the end point evaluation, none of the patients presented recurrence of the pre-operative symptoms referred before. Magnetic resonance imaging also showed absence of symptoms. Despite of the small number of patients, typical of this affection, the authors believe that arthroscopic excision of the LPVNS is an effective method, with low morbidity, providing remission of the symptoms and a low recurrence potential.