Arthritis Joint Pain Synovitis Is the Inflammation of the Synovial Tissue of a Joint Inflammation of the Synovial Tissue of a Joint By Jonathan Cluett, MD twitter linkedin Jonathan Cluett, MD, is board-certified in orthopedic surgery. He served as assistant team physician to Chivas USA (Major League Soccer) and the United States men's and women's national soccer teams. Learn about our editorial process Jonathan Cluett, MD Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by David Ozeri, MD on July 05, 2020 linkedin David Ozeri, MD, is a board-certified rheumatologist. He is based in Tel Aviv, Israel, where he does research at Sheba Medical Center. Previously, he practiced at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board David Ozeri, MD Updated on July 14, 2020 Print Synovitis is the condition that occurs when there is inflammation of the synovial tissue, the lining of a joint. This condition can cause joint pain and swelling and is the hallmark of all inflammatory joint diseases. dragana991 / Getty Images The Synovium Is the Joint Lining The synovium is a thin layer of tissue only a few cells thick which lines the joints and tendon sheaths. The synovium acts to control the environment within the joint and tendon sheath. It does this in two ways: first, it acts as a membrane to determine what can pass into the joint space and what stays outside; second, the cells within the synovium produce substances that lubricate the joint. Synovitis In certain situations, the synovium (the lining of the joints) may become thickened and inflamed. Normally only a few cell layers thick, the synovium can become thickened, more cellular, and engorged with fluid in the condition called synovitis. Often seen in arthritic conditions, and most pronounced in rheumatoid arthritis, synovitis can cause pain and inflammation within the affected joint. Treatment usually consists of anti-inflammatory medications, such as NSAIDs (Advil or Motrin, for example), or prednisone. Treatment of the underlying cause of the inflammation is also important. In joint infections, for example, antibiotics are used, while immunosuppressants would be used for rheumatoid arthritis. Surgical removal of the inflamed synovium, a synovectomy, may also be needed if the synovitis is persistent. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Dealing with chronic inflammation? An anti-inflammatory diet can help. Our free recipe guide shows you the best foods to fight inflammation. Get yours today! Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Smith MD. The normal synovium. Open Rheumatol J. 2011;5:100–106. doi:10.2174/1874312901105010100 Additional Reading Adelani MA, et al. Benign synovial disorders. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2008 May;16(5):268-75. doi:10.5435/00124635-200805000-00005