Joint Loose Bodies (Subscribe)  

Case presentation with multiple loose bodies.
Recurrent painful locking of the elbow joint. Thonse R, Belthur M. Postgrad Med J. 2002 May;78(919):301, 305 full text

Synovial chondromatosis is the rare and benign metaplasia of the synovial membrane resulting in the formation of multiple intra-articular cartilaginous bodies. Synovial chondromatosis is known by several other names including articular chondrosis and synovial chondrosis. This self-limited and non-aggressive condition occurs most commonly in the knee followed by the...

Primary synovial chondromatosis is an uncommon disorder, and involvement of the hip joint is rare. The clinical symptoms are usually non-specific, and a clinical diagnosis of synovial chondromatosis of the hip may be difficult and delayed, especially before the ossifying nodules become evident. Loose bodies in the joint can cause...

Discussion: - a monarticular synovial proliferative disease which is characterized by the metaplastic conversion of cartilagenous tissue to ossified loose bodies; - cartilagenous or osteocartilaginous metaplasia takes place w/in the synovial ...

PURPOSE: To determine the efficacy of ultrasonography (US) for the detection of intraarticular bodies.
CONCLUSION: US is an accurate method for identification of intraarticular bodies.
Synovial joints: evaluation of intraarticular bodies with US. Frankel DA, Bargiela A, Bouffard JA, Craig JG, Shirazi KK, van Holsbeeck MT. Radiology. 1998 Jan;206(1):41-4.

multiple ossified synovial fragments within joint space ("joint mice")
synovial villus thickening
--> cartilagenous metaplasia
--> bone formation
two types:
familial
  myriad very small densities
  presents early in life
non-familial
  several small + large densities
  presents later

We report four patients who showed hundreds of brilliant white loose bodies at arthroscopy of the knee after a short history of pain and crepitus. Histological, historical and clinical evidence is presented which indicates that the aetiology of this condition is the culture of chondrocytes in synovial fluid. It is...