Clinical application of arthroscopic debridement for treating knee gouty arthritis (A report of 34 cases)

YANG Xiaoming; XU Weiguo; LIU Wengeng

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1674-666X.2016.06.004

Abstract：Objective To investigate the therapeutic effect of arthroscopic debridement on knee gouty arthritis. Methods Clinical data of 34 patients with single knee gouty arthritis treated by arthroscopic debridement from January 2013 to December 2015 in Guangzhou Panyu District Hospital of Traditional Chinese medicine, were retrospectively analyzed. Clinical effects were appraised with visual analogue scale (VAS) and Lysholm knee joint function scores. Results All case diagnoses were confirmed by arthroscopic and pathological examination. The patients were followed up for 10-24 months (average, 16 months). The VAS and Lysholm scores at one month, six months after operation were (2.8 ± 1.1) and (83 ± 4), (1.4 ± 1.0) and (92 ± 3) respectively, significantly better than the preoperative (6.9 ± 1.1) and (64 ± 8), there were statistically different between preoperative and postoperative results (P < 0.05). Five cases had fever after operation, and the body temperature returned to normal after symptomatic treatment. All incisions healed by first class, no joint infection, vascular or nerve injury and deep venous thrombosis occurred. Three patients had recurrence of symptoms within one month after operation, which was associated with poor diet control, and the symptoms were relieved gradually after conservative treatment. Conclusions Arthroscopic debridement plays an important role in the diagnosis of atypical gouty arthritis of the knee. It can achieve short-term satisfactory effects with the relief of the symptoms of pain and the improvement of the function of knee joint.