Locally Invasive Pigmented Villonodular Synovitis of the Wrist Treated by Arthroscopic Resection and Bone Grafting

Abstract

Pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) is a benign but locally aggressive neoplasm that can affect tendon sheath, bursae, or joint. The wrist joint however is uncommonly involved and here we present a case of chronic monoarticular joint pain and swelling in a healthcare professional that was later histologically verified to be PVNS of the radiocarpal joint. The patient had a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) performed prior to surgery which showed a locally invasive bony tumor of the scaphoid. He subsequently underwent a wrist arthroscopic evaluation and resection with bone grafting as the index surgery and made an uneventful postoperative recovery. This is a novel technique to address PVNS of the wrist as these cases are usually managed using open procedures which can lead to additional scarring and disrupt the blood supply of the joint capsule.