[Synovial osteochondromatosis. Therapeutic indications based on a histological classification]

The surgical treatment of synovial osteochondromatosis fluctuates between the desire of doing the most complete synovectomy to avoid the formation of new loose bodies, and the technical possibilities of realising it without compromising the stability and the expansion of the ulterior mobility of the articulation. The histological examination of 44 operatory pieces allow us to suggest a histological classification of 4 evolutive stages based on the aspect of the synovial and without taking into consideration the existence or not of loose bodies which can exist in all stages. The surgical operation should be large in the stage of full fluorescence, it can be limited in the regression stage. This evolutive diagnostic can be done through the histological examination of the biopsy obtained by arthroscopy.