Total knee arthroplasty in pigmented villonodular synovitis osteoarthritis: a systematic review of literature

Pigmented Villonodular Synovitis (PVNS) is a proliferative disease arising from the synovial membrane, mainly affects large joints such as the knee (almost 80% of total). Prostheses implanted in PVNS osteoarthritis show a higher revision rate when compared to primary osteoarthritis, due to the recurrence of disease and the overall surgical complications. The purpose of this systematic review is to summarize and compare indications, clinical and functional outcomes, disease-related and surgical-related complications of total knee arthroplasty in PVNS osteoarthritis.

A systematic review of the literature was performed with a primary search on Medline through PubMed. The PRISMA 2009 flowchart and checklist were used to edit the review. Screened studies had to provide preoperative diagnosis, previous treatments, main treatment, concomitant strategies, mean follow-up, outcomes and complications to be included in the review.

A total of 8 articles were finally included. Most of papers reported the use of non-constrained design implants, mainly posterior stabilized (PS) and in case of PVNS with extensive joint involvement implants with higher degree of constraint to obtain a fulfilling balancing. Recurrence of PVNS has been indicated as the major complication, followed by aseptic loosening of the implant and difficult post-operative course with an increased risk of stiffness.

Total knee arthroplasty represents a valid treatment for patients with PVNS end-stage osteoarthritis, with good clinical and functional results, even in longer follow-up. It would be advisable a multidisciplinary management and a meticulous rehabilitation and monitoring following the procedure, to reduce the emergence of recurrence and overall complications.