What is ankle synovitis?

A protective coating called synovium covers ankle joint. Ankle synovitis is the inflammation of this synovium. Synovitis of the ankle can be the resultant of autoimmune disorders like gout and rheumatoid arthritis or an injury.

What causes ankle synovitis?

Ankle injury or affection by an infection or an inflammatory disease, the synovial membrane gets inflamed and thus, allowing the synovial fluid contained within to leak into the joint. This leakage of the fluid would lead to cartilage degradation, joint instability and can potentially block the supply of nutrients to the surrounding regions. Most common causes are inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, gout, infective affections like bacterial or tuberculous infections or chronic instability predisposing to synovitis.

How is it diagnosed?

Patient comes with complaints of swelling of the ankle. A complete clinical examination with the help of specific investigations (blood & radiological), we can diagnose the most probable cause of this synovitis.

How is it treated?

Once the causative agent is diagnosed, most often, the treatment lies in well-directed medications, which control the inflammation & prevent its adverse effects. In some of the cases, a key hole surgery (arthroscopy) may be advised to get the tissue (synovium) for diagnosis and to reduce the disease load.