Synovial Chondromatosis of the Knee Joint: A Rarity During Childhood

Abstract

Synovial chondromatosis is a rare disease, especially in children. We report on a 12-year old girl who suffered twice a knee trauma. She then developed an arthritis of her right knee joint and finally showed all signs of synovial chondromatosis arthroscopically. Treatment consisted of removal of loose as well as stalked chondromatous bodies by means of arthroscopy. According to Milgram (1975) the evolution of the disease progresses through three stages, starting with synovial metaplasia producing chondromas which are then shed into the joint. Kay, Freemont and Davies (1989) doubt this theory.