Total knee replacement in haemophilia

• Published in: Haemophilia : the official journal of the World Federation of Hemophilia Vol. 8; no. 3; pp. 382 - 386
• Main Authors: GODDARD, N. J., RODRIGUEZ-MERCHAN, E. C., WIEDEL, J. D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford UK Blackwell Science Ltd 01-05-2002
• Subjects: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - complications; arthropathy; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee - adverse effects; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee - statistics & numerical data; haemophilia; Hemarthrosis - prevention & control; Hemarthrosis - surgery; Hemophilia A - complications; Hemophilia A - therapy; Hemophilia A - virology; Humans; knee; total arthroplasty; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 1351-8216; 1365-2516
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2516.2002.00604.x

We believe that total knee replacement (TKR) is a safe and effective procedure for the management of haemophiliac joint arthropathy; however, the increased risk of infection and non‐infective complications remain a cause for concern. TKR in haemophilic patients carries with it an increased risk of post‐operative infection in comparison to non‐haemophiliac patients. Those patients at particular risk are the HIV‐positive haemophiliac patients whose CD4 count is less than 200 cells mm–3. The latest techniques have gone a long way to reducing the complication rate and to achieving results that match those of a similar non‐haemophiliac population.