Biomaterial Database

Silicone synovitis. A perspective. 1994

M Lanzetta, and T J Herbert, and W B Conolly

Sydney Hospital Hand Unit, Australia.

Silicone implant arthroplasty is, arguably, the most effective treatment for the majority of patients with symptomatic arthritis in the hand and wrist. In 1985 the problem of silicone synovitis was first brought to our attention. Since that time there have been numerous reports on this condition leading to a worldwide trend against the use of silicone implants. However, the true incidence and effects of silicone synovitis have not been clearly defined. For this reason, we have undertaken a survey of all patients who have undergone silicone implant arthroplasty in the wrist and hand in our Unit between 1975 and 1990. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis and those undergoing MP or IP joint arthroplasty were excluded. Of the 289 implant arthroplasties remaining, we have been able to review personally 229 implants with a mean follow-up of 3.8 years (range 1-15). Although 40% of cases showed significant radiological changes, only 11 patients (4.8%) developed symptoms requiring treatment. Of these, two were managed conservatively whilst the rest underwent revision surgery, all with entirely satisfactory results. We conclude that silicone implant arthroplasty remains the treatment of choice for patients with painful joint disease in the hand and wrist.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007595	Joint Prosthesis	Prostheses used to partially or totally replace a human or animal joint. (from UMDNS, 1999)	Joint Prostheses,Prostheses, Joint,Prosthesis, Joint
D008297	Male		Males
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D010003	Osteoarthritis	A progressive, degenerative joint disease, the most common form of arthritis, especially in older persons. The disease is thought to result not from the aging process but from biochemical changes and biomechanical stresses affecting articular cartilage. In the foreign literature it is often called osteoarthrosis deformans.	Arthritis, Degenerative,Osteoarthrosis,Osteoarthrosis Deformans,Arthroses,Arthrosis,Arthritides, Degenerative,Degenerative Arthritides,Degenerative Arthritis,Osteoarthritides,Osteoarthroses
D010020	Osteonecrosis	Death of a bone or part of a bone, either atraumatic or posttraumatic.	Aseptic Necrosis of Bone,Avascular Necrosis of Bone,Kienbock Disease,Necrosis, Aseptic, of Bone,Necrosis, Avascular, of Bone,Bone Necrosis,Kienbock's Disease,Kienboeck Disease,Kienboeck's Disease,Bone Aseptic Necrosis,Bone Avascular Necrosis,Bone Necroses,Kienboecks Disease,Necroses, Bone,Necrosis, Bone,Osteonecroses
D011475	Prosthesis Failure	Malfunction of implantation shunts, valves, etc., and prosthesis loosening, migration, and breaking.	Prosthesis Loosening,Prosthesis Durability,Prosthesis Migration,Prosthesis Survival,Durabilities, Prosthesis,Durability, Prosthesis,Failure, Prosthesis,Failures, Prosthesis,Loosening, Prosthesis,Loosenings, Prosthesis,Migration, Prosthesis,Migrations, Prosthesis,Prosthesis Durabilities,Prosthesis Failures,Prosthesis Loosenings,Prosthesis Migrations,Prosthesis Survivals,Survival, Prosthesis,Survivals, Prosthesis
D011884	Radius	The outer shorter of the two bones of the FOREARM, lying parallel to the ULNA and partially revolving around it.	Radial Tuberosity,Radial Tuberosities,Tuberosities, Radial,Tuberosity, Radial
D002348	Carpal Bones	The eight bones of the wrist: SCAPHOID BONE; LUNATE BONE; TRIQUETRUM BONE; PISIFORM BONE; TRAPEZIUM BONE; TRAPEZOID BONE; CAPITATE BONE; and HAMATE BONE.	Bone, Carpal,Bones, Carpal,Carpal Bone
D005260	Female		Females
D005384	Finger Joint	The articulation between the head of one phalanx and the base of the one distal to it, in each finger.	Interphalangeal Joint of Hand,Interphalangeal Joint of Finger,Finger Interphalangeal Joint,Finger Interphalangeal Joints,Finger Joints,Hand Interphalangeal Joint,Hand Interphalangeal Joints,Joint, Finger,Joints, Finger