Abstract
INTRODUCTION: This study compares recurrence rates and functional outcomes of patients who underwent anterior arthroscopic synovectomy versus combined anterior arthroscopic/posterior open synovectomy for diffuse pigmented villonodular synovitis (DPVNS). METHODS: 41 patients were grouped by initial procedure and tracked for disease recurrence and functional outcomes (Lysholm Scale). RESULTS: 24 patients (58.5%) had disease recurrence [16 (57.1%) arthroscopic, 8 (61.5%) combined, chi-square test p = 0.81]. The combined procedure mean Lysholm Score (75.4) exceeded the arthroscopic (68.1) (two-sample t-test p = 0.25). CONCLUSIONS: There is no statistical evidence that the combined procedure harms functionality more than arthroscopic only or that recurrence rates differ between treatment methods.