Haemophilic arthropathy of the elbow

• Published in: Haemophilia : the official journal of the World Federation of Hemophilia Vol. 11; no. 6; pp. 565 - 570
• Main Authors: Utukuri, M. M., Goddard, N. J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Science Ltd 01-11-2005
• Subjects: Acute Disease; arthropathy; arthroplasty; Arthroplasty, Replacement - methods; elbow; Elbow Joint - physiopathology; Elbow Joint - surgery; haemophilia; Hemarthrosis - diagnostic imaging; Hemarthrosis - etiology; Hemarthrosis - therapy; Hemophilia A - complications; Hemophilia A - diagnostic imaging; HIV Infections - prevention & control; Humans; Occupational Diseases - prevention & control; Radiography; radiology; Radius - surgery; resection; Synovectomy; Synovial Membrane - drug effects
• ISSN: 1351-8216; 1365-2516
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2516.2005.01146.x

Patients affected by haemophilia commonly have recurrent intra‐articular bleeding which leads to progressive destruction and instability of joints. Severe arthropathy of the elbow is complicated by pain, stiffness and loss of function which can be debilitating. Conservative measures such as analgesics, physiotherapy and orthotics are commonly used in the management of these patients. Surgery is considered when conservative measures fail to control the symptoms. Total elbow replacement is now increasingly performed with the advances made in factor replacement therapy and evolution of better implants and techniques of total elbow arthroplasty. The pathogenesis, clinical features and radiological changes of haemophilic arthropathy of the elbow are described in this review article.