Clinical features of early haemarthroses in severely affected adolescent haemophiliacs

• Published in: Clinical and laboratory haematology Vol. 6; no. 1; p. 9
• Main Authors: Aronstam, A, Browne, R S, Wassef, M, Hamad, Z
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01-03-1984
• Subjects: Adolescent; Ankle Joint; Elbow Joint; Hemarthrosis - diagnosis; Hemarthrosis - etiology; Hemophilia A - complications; Humans; Knee Joint; Time Factors
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2257.1984.tb00520.x
• ISSN: 0141-9854

Six hundred and ninety bleeds into the knees, ankles and elbows of severe haemophiliacs presenting for treatment within 3 h of the onset of symptoms have been studied with the aim of providing clinical information for the haemophiliac patient or his parent treating early bleeding episodes at home. Patients were resident at a boarding school and documentation and follow-up to complete resolution was possible. Stiffness was a presenting symptom in 61% of elbow bleeds, 49% of knee bleeds and 18% of ankle bleeds. Pain was a presenting feature in 79% of ankle bleeds, 55% of knee bleeds and 42% of elbow bleeds. Tenderness was a common feature of ankle bleeds (85%), less so in elbows (55%) and knees (69%). Swelling was a very common feature at all sites and the mean increases in girth of the knees, elbows and ankles were 1.42 cm, 0.88 cm, and 0.62 cm, respectively. All the knee and elbow bleeds and 85% of the ankle bleeds had demonstrable restriction of movement. There was a direct relationship between the degree of swelling, extent of movement restriction and time taken for complete restoration of function, the mean of which was 3.6 days for elbows, 2.5 for knees and 1.1 for ankles.