TOTAL KNEE ARTHROPLASTY FOR KNEE PROBLEMS IN HEMOPHILIAC PATIENTS

Abstract

There is quite a high incidence of musculoskeletal disorders in the hemophiliac patients because of their insufficiency in blood coagulation. Knee joint disability is the most troublesome problem among the all. Repeated bruise and intra-articular hemorrhage may activate hypertrophic synovitis and progress to advanced arthritis. The characteristic clinical presentation is their fusiform limbs with moderate degree of contracture and deformity. Treatments include administration of specific coagulation factors, aspiration of hemarthrosis and proper bracing. Synovectomy will treat and retard the progression of the disease, while some advanced cases may end up to spontaneous fusion or need surgical arthrodesis. Total knee arthroplasty is another option for such a knee problem in hemophiliac patients.

We have done 26 total knee arthroplasties in 19 hemophiliac patients since 1986. Male is predominant with sex-linked inheritance with only one exception. The timing for them to have surgery is from 22 to 47 years old with mean age of 30. Gross patholgies of the knee lesion are quite universal as hypertrophy of hemosiderin deposited synovium, destruction of articular catilage, subchondral bone loss, marginal osteophytes formation, fibrous contracture around the joints. Two cases were excluded for other systemic disease.

With the help of supplementary coagulation factor, the surgical courses were rather smooth with one exception of septic shock episode. There were no infections in total series but three revisions of prosthesis were done because of loosening or malposition. All the patients were satisfied with the improvement of function score and range of knee motion. Total knee arthroplasty did a great success for the relief of pain and function for such a knee disorder. The only remained troublesome problem is the extremely high cost of the coagulation factor therapy which may be an economic shock to the patients.