Complications of surgery on synovium and soft tissues

Arthroscopic synovectomy is an effective procedure for the resection of the synovium in the knee joint. The procedure can be carried out safely and with minimal morbidity. Arthroscopic synovectomy is indicated for hypertrophic synovial disorders including aggressive rheumatoid arthritis, generalized or local pigmented villonodular synovitis, and metaplastic disorders like chondromatosis and secondary arthrosynovitis. Although it is a minimally invasive procedure with less risk compared with open synovectomy, complications have been reported. These include technical problems, diagnostic errors, infection, fistulae, complex regional pain syndrome, thromboembolism, hemarthrosis, vascular and neurologic injuries.