[Use of radiocolloids in orthopaedic practice.]

The authors submit in their paper the results of treatment with radiocolloids 198Au and Y90 in patients with chronic synovialitis associated with rheumatoid arthritis, degenerative diseases, haemophilia, posttraumatic conditions, arthropathy and gout. During the period between 1970 and 1995 they administered radiocolloid 1259 times to 865 patients. Up to 1986 they administered radiocolloid of gold 198, since 1986 to the present time only radiocolloid of yttrium 90. The authors compare the results obtained with the two preparations, the results being greatly in favour for yttrium. The evaluation was made 6 months before administration and 6 months following administration of radiocolloid. Following administration of gold 198 they recorded substantial improvement in one third of the patients and improvement in half the patients. After administration of yttrium 90 44% patients improved substantially and 49% of the patients improved. A long-term effect of treatment with radiocolloids after more than six months of treatment was found after gold 198 administration in 27% patients and after yttrium 90 in 78% patients. No therapeutic response was recorded after administration of gold 198 in 29% and after administration of yttrium 90 in 22% patients. Key words: chronic synovialitis, radiosynoviorthesis, radiocolloid 198Au and 90Y.