Synovial Fold Syndrome Of The Knee
This syndrome occurs when the folds (lanes of residual synovial tissue) are irritated by overuse or trauma. Synovial fold is a residual tissue which is found in the initial stages of fetal development. As the fetus develops, the tissue combine to form one large synovial cavity. If the process is incomplete, envelopes remain as four folds or bands of synovial tissue in the knee. Trauma, overuse or inflammatory diseases are associated with the development of this syndrome.
Symptoms and diagnosis
Patients experience pain and joint swelling (arthritis of the knee), a punched noise at the joint movement, weakness and the sensation of a locked knee. This syndrome is often misdiagnosed because the symptoms are related to other joint diseases. The diagnosis usually depends on excluding other conditions that cause similar symptoms.
The goal of treatment is to reduce the synovial inflammation and the thickening of the fold. The doctor usually recommend anti-inflammatory treatment like ibuprofen. It is indicated to reduce the activity of the joint, compresses with ice, the use of elastic buttocks and performing muscle strengthening exercises. If this treatment dose not improve symptoms in three months, the doctor may recommend arthroscopy or surgery to remove the fold. Treatment like joint injections with cortisone, it is beneficial to half of patients. The doctor may use arthroscopy to confirm the diagnosis and treat this disease.