Case report: the treatment of chronic synovitis by chemical synovectomy

Repeated hemarthrosis in hemophiliacs results in early joint destruction. When conservative treatment including factor replacement, immobilization, and physiotherapy fails to halt the bleeding, chronic synovitis develops and a more drastic definitive procedure is required to establish local hemostasis. Various techniques including surgical synovectomy, chemical or radioisotopic synoviorthesis have been used. We describe the successful rehabilitation and return to sport participation of a young boy, once bedridden by ankle synovitis, by the use of intraarticular osmic acid. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 1986;8(2):85-87.