Primary synovial chondromatosis of the elbow

Very few cases of primary synovial chondromatosis of the elbow have been reported in the literature. This is a study concerning the late outcome of primary synovial chondromatosis in the elbows of 12 patients, 10 men and 2 women, with a mean follow-up of 16 years 10 months. The average age at the time of the initial complaint was 29 years. The histories of 10 patients revealed elbow strain as a consequence of work-related activities. Surgery included removal of loose bodies and partial synovectomy in all patients. A moderate to severe osteoarthritis was found preoperatively in 5 of 12 patients and during follow-up in 7 of 10 patients. The degree of osteoarthritis deteriorated after surgery in 5 of these cases, depending on patient age, length of presurgical history, length of follow-up, and strenuous activities. However, the functional deficiencies were usually moderate and had little significance with respect to the activities of daily living. No recurrence of primary synovial chondromatosis was found. (J Shoulder Elbow Surg 2000;9:319-22.)