Synovitis of the elbow joint is the medical condition that occurs due to the inflammation of the synovial membrane surrounding the elbow. This causes swelling, resulting in pain around the elbow, in turn causing difficulty in performing normal activities like moving or lifting the hands.
The synovial fluid is normally present in the elbow joint but excess presence of this fluid in and around the joint is caused during synovitis of the elbow.
Synovitis can be caused by the following:
- Repetitive and over use of the elbow
- Injury to the elbow due to a fall etc.
- Previous injuries
- Infections like tuberculosis or septic arthritis
- Medical conditions that include the different variants of arthritis like Rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, psoriatic arthritis etc.,
- Patients with risk of Crystalline deposits in joint from gout, chemotherapy etc.
The doctor would also recommend the following tests to diagnose Synovitis of the elbow:
- X-Rays provide for clear images of the elbow joint to rule out any trauma.
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) will give an idea of the soft tissue damage around the elbow joint.
Treatment
Non-Surgical Methods
The different non-surgical treatment options recommended by the doctor to reduce the pain and swelling of the elbow joint that was caused by Synovitis are:
- Rest: Giving proper rest to the arm is the first step towards recovery of the inflamed elbow joint. The patient is recommended to stay away from sports or strenuous activity.
- Icing the Elbow: is recommended to be done for 10 to 15 minutes at intervals of 3-4 hours for two to three days. This will help reduce the pain and the swelling.
- Brace: is recommended by doctors to relieve the symptoms of the Synovitis of the elbow.
- Physical Therapy: is usually recommended with exercises for muscle strengthening and to reduce stiffness and increase flexibility.
Surgical Methods
The doctors will recommend surgical treatments when the symptoms are persistent and the condition worsens. The surgery includes the removal of the affected synovial tissue, which is usually done using the Elbow Arthroscopy technique. The pathological tissue will be removed and sent to lab for histo-pathological testing.
Elbow Arthroscopy
This is a minimal invasive surgical procedure performed to diagnose and also treat injuries to the elbow joint like Tennis Elbow.
The procedure involves the doctor in creating couple of incisions and inserting the tiny camera called the Arthroscope, which will act as a visual aid for the doctors in performing the procedure. The doctors will first examine the injured area and then insert thin surgical instruments through the other incisions and use the arthroscope to guide them to the injured spot and perform the procedure.
