Total elbow replacement can be a valuable option for the treatment of the elbow in haemophilia where there are associated arthropathic changes. We describe the outcome of seven elbow replacements in five consecutive patients with severe haemophilia A (native factor levels < 1%) at a mean of 42 months (25 to 65) after operation. All the patients had excellent relief of pain and improvement in function. One failure was due to infection in an immunocompromised patient with both HIV and Hepatitis C antibodies who was on anti-retroviral chemotherapy. The implant was revised at 30 months in a one-stage procedure and showed no evidence of loosening or infection 35 months later.

Septic arthritis has been regarded as rare in haemophiliacs, but its incidence may have increased since HIV infection has become widespread in these patients. We describe six cases treated at one haemophilia unit over a two-year period and discuss their investigation, diagnosis and treatment. Four of the patients were seropositive to anti-HIV.