What Is a Synovectomy for Rheumatoid Arthritis?

In a normal healthy joint, the synovium lines the joint and provides it with essential nutrients as well as its blood supply. In patients who have rheumatoid arthritis, the synovium becomes very, very inflamed and starts to erode the bone as well as the cartilage in the joint. Oftentimes when medicines are insufficient in controlling the disease, patients may require an operative procedure which is called the Synovectomy to surgically remove the inflamed synovium and treat the infected joint.