SYNOVECTOMY AS A PROPHYLACTIC MEASURE IN RECURRENT HAEMOPHILIC HAEMARTHROSIS Follow‐up of 23 Cases

Abstract

Because of frequently recurring hemarthrosis which could not be controlled by conservative management 19 hemophiliacs were subjected to synovectomy on a total of 23 joints.sbd.17 knees, 5 elbows and 1 hip. The patients were followed for an average of 23 mo. Primary postoperative complications occurred, in the form of recurrent bleeding, in 8 joints. Rehabilitation was often difficult and long-lasting, and the range of joint motion was essentially restricted in 4 cases. After a follow-up period exceeding 6 mo. the findings in the remaining, mobile 19 synovectomized joints were: 12 relieved of hemorrhage, 5 with rare and 2 frequent hemorrhages. The reduction in the number of hemorrhages was significant (P < 0.01). In the light of the complicated postoperative course, synovectomy should be used only on strict indications, i.e., only in otherwise intractable cases of progressing hemophilic arthropathy.