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.