Synovectomy of the knee for hemophilic arthropathy

Synovectomy of the knee for the control of recurrent hemarthrosis was performed in thirteen patients with hemophilic arthropathy. Preoperatively, all patients had experienced an average of three bleeding episodes into the affected joint per month, and had been unresponsive to at least six months of medical management. Radiographically, all knees had either Stage-II or Stage-III hemophilic arthropathy. The average age of the patients at the time of synovectomy was sixteen years and the average length of follow-up was 7.3 years (range, two to eleven years and seven months). Although the motion of the knee remained unchanged postoperatively in two patients, ten patients had an average loss of 41 degrees. One patient eventually required an arthrodesis. Radiographically, there was slight further joint deterioration after synovectomy, and no knee progressed beyond Stage-III hemophilic arthropathy. Only one patient in our series had a recurrent spontaneous hemarthrosis of the synovectomized knee, although two others had traumatic bleeding episodes. The complications included three immediate postoperative hemarthrosis requiring surgical evacuation, isoimmune hemolytic anemia in one patient, patellofemoral adhesions in two knees, and a total fibrous ankylosis that required a knee arthrodesis in one patient. It was concluded from our study that chronic recurrent hemarthrosis and the pain associated with persistent synovitis in the hemophilic knee can be effectively eliminated for as many as twelve years after open synovectomy, although usually with significant loss of motion of the knee. This procedure also appeared to slow the progression of arthropathy, and no patient had been considered for a total knee replacement at the time of writing.     

Arthroscopic synovectomy for chronic hemophilic synovitis of the knee

Synovectomy for chronic hemophilic arthropathy is performed for the main purpose of stopping recurrent hemarthroses. The indications are frequent recurrent bleeds and persistent synovial hypertrophy. Five patients with chronic hemophilic arthropathy of the knee who underwent arthroscopic synovectomy between June 1980 and June 1981 represent the source for this discussion. Two of these patients subsequently developed a stress-induced joint bleed, one persisted in having an effusion but no recurrent bleeds, whereas the other patient developed recurrent bleeds and required a second synovectomy 4 years later. Another patient required a second arthroscopic procedure, with posteromedial synovial resection 10 months after the initial synovectomy not including the posteromedial compartment. He has not had a joint bleed since. The remaining two patients have had no recurrence of joint bleeding or synovial hypertrophy. All patients obtained their preoperative motion. No complications occurred as a result of these synovectomies. Subsequent synovectomies have produced one complication of a severe immediate postoperative hemarthrosis.     

Open and arthroscopic synovectomy in hemophilic arthropathy of the knee.

Open and arthroscopic synovectomies of the knee in patients with classic hemophilia were evaluated with regard to effectiveness in reducing bleeding episodes, the effect on range of motion (ROM), and roentgenographic progression of hemophilic arthropathy. Eleven patients underwent 13 synovectomies (eight open, five arthroscopic). The average follow-up periods were 7.9 years and 2.2 years for the open and arthroscopic groups, respectively. Both procedures significantly reduced recurrent hemarthroses. Knee ROM in the open synovectomy group was decreased or unchanged in 75% and minimally increased in 25%, whereas there was an increased in 80% and a decrease in 20% of the knees in the arthroscopic group. Furthermore, 62.5% of the knees required manipulation to improve ROM in the open synovectomy group, versus 0% in the arthroscopic group. Hemophilic arthropathy progressed in most knees in both groups. The arthroscopic group had a longer operative procedure (122 versus 59 minutes), but required less hospitalization (9.4 versus 23.1 days) and 25.6% less Factor VIII replacement. Both techniques reduce hemarthroses. There is usually a net loss of ROM with the open versus a net gain with the arthroscopic procedure, and roentgenographic progression hemophilic arthropathy is slowed but not halted after synovectomy.     

Recurrent hemarthrosis after knee joint arthroplasty: etiology and treatment

This study reports the results for 10 patients with recurrent hemarthrosis after knee joint arthroplasty. The average interval between arthroplasty and the first instance of hemarthrosis was at 26 months, and the average number of hemarthroses per patient was 3.8. In 3 patients, the bleeding responded to simple conservative measures. The remaining 7 needed surgery; there were 6 arthroscopic synovectomies and 1 polyethylene revision. Impingement of the proliferative synovium was observed in only 2 patients during surgical intervention. In the 2 patients in whom arthroscopic management was successful, another procedure with an electric coagulator, in addition to a formal synovectomy, was performed. The use of a coagulator may be helpful for direct coagulation when arthroscopic management is selected, although open synovectomy is curative in most cases.     

Synovectomy and continuous passive motion (CPM) in hemophiliac patients

Synovectomy of the knee is a procedure that has been used traditionally for the management of arthropathies due to intraarticular bleeding diatheses. Although open synovectomy controls recurrent bleeding problems, the success of this procedure has been limited frequently by disabling stiffness of the joint. In an attempt to improve on the results of open synovectomy, arthroscopic synovectomy was combined with continuous passive motion (CPM) in a prospective surgical and rehabilitation program. Five male patients aged 10 to 35 years, with chronic and/or recurrent hemarthroses due to hemophilia, underwent arthroscopic synovectomy of the knee. CPM was begun in the recovery room and continued for 5-7 days. Each patient had mildly restricted range of motion (ROM) immediately postoperatively as compared with preoperative measurements. Both active and passive ROM improved rapidly with CPM and physical therapy. By 3-6 months postoperatively, all patients except one had achieved an active ROM greater than the preoperative range, and all showed a significant reduction in documented bleeding episodes. The combination of arthroscopic techniques, which result in minimal extraarticular trauma, and immediate mobilization using CPM has been successful in maximizing the benefits and minimizing the complications of synovectomy in the patient with hemorrhagic arthropathy.     

Arthroscopic synovectomy for recurrent hemarthrosis of the ankle in hemophilia

Nine patients with a history of recurrent hemarthroses of the ankle due to severe hemophilia were evaluated following arthroscopic ankle synovectomy. Follow-up averaged 33 months (range, 9 to 67 months) and included ankle range of motion, frequency of ankle hemarthroses, radiographic findings, and a functional assessment. The average age at the time of surgery was 12.3 years (range, 6.1 to 21.9 years). The average are of ankle motion was 48.4° (range, 30° to 70°) postoperatively. The functional score as modified from Mazur averaged 36.1 points (range, 17 to 68 points) preoperatively, and 77.9 points (range, 32 to 100 points) postoperatively. Radiographic evidence of ankle arthropathy remained stable for most ankles. Arthoscopic ankle synovectomy for recurrent hemarthrosis due to hemophilia is a viable alternative to open ankle synovectomy for controlling the frequency of ankle bleeds and maintaining ankle function.     

The effect of tourniquet use and hemovac drainage on postoperative hemarthrosis.

Postoperative hemarthrosis is the most common reported complication after arthroscopic knee surgery. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of hemovac drainage and tourniquet use on the incidence of postoperative hemarthrosis. Sixty patients who had undergone arthroscopic knee surgery were divided into groups based on tourniquet use and whether a drain was used postoperatively. At follow-up, patients had range of motion recorded, and clinical assessment of their hemarthrosis (Grades 0 through 4). Patients who had a hemovac drain used postoperatively, and those patients who did not have a tourniquet used, had fewer hemarthroses and a greater range of motion at all periods of follow-up. We conclude that use of a drain can decrease the incidence of hemarthrosis and allow patients to regain an active range of motion sooner. Also, the routine use of a tourniquet should be avoided because of its correlation with hemarthrosis.     

The role of arthroscopic synovectomy in the management of hemarthrosis in hemophilia patients: Financial perspectives

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the financial efficacy of arthroscopic synovectomy in hemophilia patients with recurrent hemarthroses. Type of Study: Cost-benefit analysis. Methods: A retrospective chart review from 1993 through 1999 yielded 11 cases of arthroscopic synovectomies performed for recurrent hemarthroses at the University of Michigan. There were 7 ankle arthroscopies, 3 elbow arthroscopies, and 1 knee arthroscopy. The average age of the patients was 8 years (range, 4-13 years). All had the severe form of hemophilia A. The average follow-up was 41 months (range, 9-75 months). The preoperative costs were determined by multiplying the number of preoperative bleeds by the dollar amount of the replacement therapy used to treat the hemarthroses. The surgical costs included the surgery itself as well as the hospital stay and the dollar amount of the replacement therapy used in the perioperative period. The total postoperative costs included the surgical costs and the dollar amount of any replacement therapy used to treat any postoperative hemarthroses. Results: The financial benefit of arthroscopic synovectomy was found to be statistically significant when average preoperative cost per month ($7,500) was compared with the average postoperative cost per month ($900), P = .028. Arthroscopic synovectomy was again found to be financially beneficial when the average total preoperative cost ($88,000) was compared with the average total postoperative cost ($24,000), P = .028. The average number of hemarthroses preoperatively was 71 and the average postoperatively was 7, which was statistically significant (P = .028). Conclusions: In this small series of patients with intermediate follow-up, arthroscopic synovectomy was found to be cost effective in the treatment of patients with recurrent hemarthroses.Arthroscopy: The Journal of Arthroscopic and Related Surgery, Vol 18, No 7 (September), 2002: pp 789–794     

Orthopaedic Problems about the Ankle in Hemophilia

Hemophilia is an inherited recessive, sex-linked bleeding disorder. The lack of sufficient coagulation factor VIII produces hemophilia A, and the lack of factor IX causes hemophilia B. The prevention and treatment of the disease requires intravenous infusion of the deficient factor. Hemophilic patients present with multiarticular joint degeneration (hemophilic arthropathy), secondary to recurrent hemarthroses. With the availability of deficient factors, hemophilic patients requiring elective ankle surgery can undergo such surgery with a high expectation of success. A thorough analysis of each case by a multidisciplinary team will increase the likelihood of successful surgical intervention in the hemophilic patient. Radiosynovectomy decreases both the frequency and the intensity of recurrent ankle bleeding episodes related to ankle synovitis. The general recommendation is that when 3 early consecutive radiosynovectomies (repeated every 6 months) fail to halt synovitis, arthroscopic synovectomy should be considered. For advanced hemophilic arthropathy of the ankle, the first alternative for treatment, in our opinion, is arthroscopic ankle debridement. In the most severe cases, we recommend either ankle arthrodesis or total ankle replacement. In every other case, we feel that the best therapy is prophylaxis and radiosynovectomy in order to avoid hemophilic synovitis and ankle arthropathy.     

Long-term results of arthroscopic synovectomy for seropositive rheumatoid arthritis: 6-16 year review

We prospectively studied a consecutive series of 25 knees (21 patients) treated with arthroscopic synovectomy for seropositive rheumatoid arthritis. All patients had pain and swelling and were in the early stages of the disease process (Larsen grade 2 or less). Three patients were lost to follow-up. At a mean of 8 years from operation two knees underwent total knee replacement with another two knees required a further arthroscopic synovectomy. One patient continued to experience intermittent mild synovitis. The range of movement was maintained or improved by surgery in 73% of cases but radiological evidence of degenerative change was seen in all knees. We discuss the technical difficulties associated with arthroscopic synovectomy that were associated with a small complication rate. In appropriately selected patients unresponsive to medical therapy, arthroscopic synovectomy can give safe and reliable results.     

Recurrent hemarthrosis in a hemophilic patient after revision total knee arthroplasty

Recurrent hemarthrosis following a revision total knee arthroplasty is a rare complication. The likelihood of encountering bleeding complications in patients with hemophilia C following major surgery is unpredictable. Although the use of postoperative chemotherapeutic agents to prevent deep venous thrombosis (DVT) is considered the standard of care for most patients, its use in the hemophiliac population is unknown. This case describes a woman with Hemophilia C who presented with recurrent hemarthrosis 9 days after her revision total knee arthroplasty. Initial treatment efforts were directed towards treating the patient's underlying coagulopathy. Repeated transfusions of fresh frozen plasma and desmopressin were given in an attempt to achieve hemostasis. However the hemarthrosis did not resolve and 36 days postoperatively, a pseudoaneurysm of the left superior geniculate artery was found by angiography and percutaneously embolized. This article presents the first case, to our knowledge, of recurrent hemarthrosis in a hemophiliac patient after revision total knee arthroplasty. It further highlights the importance of considering all possible causes of postoperative bleeding to make a timely diagnosis in the face of a confounding clinical picture.     

Orthopedic management of hemophilia

Hemophilia is an X-linked inherited bleeding disorder characterized by a deficiency of clotting factor VIII or IX in the intrinsic pathway of the coagulation cascade. This disease can have a profound, debilitating effect on the musculoskeletal system through recurrent hemarthroses and intermuscular hematomas. Although medical management with replacement factor is often effective, patients with severe hemophilia may develop chronic synovitis and arthropathy best treated with more invasive means. Radioactive synovectomy performed at select hemophilia centers and arthroscopic or open synovectomy are helpful for chronic, active synovitis. Arthroplasty helps improve function and pain relief for most patients, but complication rates, particularly for infection, are higher than those for arthroplasty performed on patients without hemophilia.     

Synovectomy in hemophilic arthropathy. A retrospective review of 17 cases

Seventeen patients with severe hemophilic synovitis were reviewed for an average of 59.6 months after surgical synovectomy to record radiographic progression of arthropathic changes, frequency of hemarthroses, and range of motion. There were 12 knees and five elbows in the study. Most joints showed some radiographic progression of the arthropathy. In aged patients, two knees progressed to end-stage disease. The frequency of hemarthroses was greatly decreased in all joints and especially in the elbow. Range of motion was preserved for most knees but was reduced significantly for the elbow. Three of five elbows had additional procedures. This factor may be responsible, in part, for lost motion in the elbow as compared to the relatively good results in the knee having had true synovectomy. While the incidence of bleeding is significantly decreased after surgical synovectomy, it is not necessarily associated with a cessation of the progression of joint pathology. Reduced incidence of bleeds following postsurgical synovectomy may serve to delay reconstructive operations until a later period in life. Eventually, the disease proceeds to end-stage arthropathy as joint function correspondingly decreases with age. Early surgical synovectomy for intractable chronic synovitis is recommended as a useful measure in the management of hemophilic arthropathy. Patients should be treated conservatively with therapeutic doses of factor concentrate replacement for a reasonable period of time in an effort to obviate surgical treatment.     

Magnetic resonance angiography in the management of recurrent hemarthrosis after total knee arthroplasty

Spontaneous hemarthrosis is an infrequent but disabling complication after total knee arthroplasty. The purpose of this case series is to demonstrate the utility of magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) in the evaluation of hemarthrosis after total knee arthroplasty. Patients presenting with hemarthrosis unexplained by trauma, anticoagulation, or a bleeding diathesis were retrospectively identified. Eighteen patients were referred for MRA to evaluate recurrent hemarthrosis after failing conservative therapy (n = 16) or synovectomy (n = 2). Despite artifact caused by the metallic components, diagnostic evaluation of regional vessels was made. In 12 of 13 cases that underwent embolization or synovectomy, a hypertrophic feeding artery (or arteries) was visualized on MRA. One case of negative MRA did not have subsequent surgery, and we are unable to comment on the rate of false-positives because all patients in this case series had evidence of bleeding. By characterizing the vascular anatomy and identifying a dominant artery (or arteries) supplying the hypervascular synovium, MRA can serve as a guide for subsequent embolization or synovectomy, as indicated.     

Arthropathy of the ankle in hemophilia

Seventy-five patients who had hemophilia were followed clinically and roentgenographically to assess the prevalence of hemarthrosis and the prevalence and severity of arthropathy of the ankle. The mean age of the patients at the time of follow-up was twenty-two years and seven months. The patients were divided into four age-groups: less than ten years (eleven patients), ten to nineteen years (twenty-one patients), twenty to thirty years (twenty-four patients), and more than thirty years (nineteen patients). Intra-articular bleeding occurred more frequently in the joints of the lower extremities than in the joints of the upper extremities. During the second decade of life, hemarthroses occurred more often in the ankle than in the knee. A history of recurrent bleeding into the ankle joint, chronic synovitis, and overgrowth of the medial portion of the distal tibial epiphysis was associated with an early onset of arthropathy. In older patients, compression arthrodesis of the ankle joint was helpful in eliminating pain, recurrent bleeding, and equinus deformity.     

Arthroscopic synovectomy for hemophilic joint disease in a pediatric population

Children with hemophilia can develop progressive arthropathy. Arthroscopic synovectomy has been used to reduce hemarthroses, but few long-term results have been published. In this article the authors review their first 12 years of experience. Data are reported on 44 pediatric patients (69 joints: 39 ankles, 21 elbows, 7 knees, 2 shoulders). The median age at surgery was 10 years Median follow-up was 79 months. Joints with sufficient follow-up data showed a median bleeding frequency decline of 84% (P < 0.001). Median arc of motion was stable or improved in the year after surgery in ankles, elbows, and shoulders. Complications were rare. Radiographic scores worsened slightly. In this largest analysis of arthroscopic synovectomy for children with hemophilia, rehabilitation was not problematic.     

Treatment of Recurrent Hemarthrosis Following Total Knee Arthroplasty Using Surgical Interventions

BackgroudRecurrent hemarthrosis following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a rare complication. Its pathophysiology and standard treatments have not yet been established. In this study, we report 7 cases of recurrent hemarthrosis after TKA in which failure of the initial conservative treatment was followed by angiographic embolization; in 1 of the 7 cases, arthroscopic electrocauterization was also performed after treatment failure with selective embolization.MethodsFrom January 2015 to May 2018, 7 patients visited our hospital due to recurrent hemarthrosis after TKA. Their medical records and serologic test results were reviewed to check for the presence of any bleeding disorder and history of anticoagulant use. Implant malalignment and instability were checked using X-ray. In all cases, the conservative treatment failed, so interventional angiography with selective embolization was performed, which was also followed by arthroscopic electrocauterization if the outcome was unsatisfactory.ResultsThe interval between TKA and the onset of hemarthrosis ranged from 3 to 76 months (average, 34.1 months). There was no coagulopathy and instability. All patients underwent conservative treatment at an interval of 4.3 months and the rate of relapse was 3.1 on average. On the interventional angiography, 6 cases showed vascular blush, and 1 case had pulsatile bleeding. The average duration for interventional angiography was 90.9 minutes. The average length of follow-up was 38.8 months. Embolization was successfully performed in 4 cases. In 2 of 3 failed cases, the symptoms improved without further treatment. In the remaining 1 failed case, the patient had a relapse of hemarthrosis, so an arthroscopic procedure was performed, which led to identification of the suspicious bleeding point by using preoperative angiographic findings. Electrocauterization was performed and active bleeding was stopped. All cases with recurrent hemarthrosis achieved improvement.ConclusionsInterventional angiography was used to aid in the diagnosis of recurrent hemarthrosis, and therapeutic selective embolization provided satisfactory clinical results. Even if selective embolization fails, interventional angiography may be helpful for further surgical procedures because it reveals vascular blush of a bleeding site. Therefore, interventional angiography and selective embolization should be considered to be a useful treatment for recurrent hemarthrosis after TKA.     

Synovectomy of the knee in hemophilia

Synovectomy of the knee in patients with hemophilia presenting in countries with demographic characteristics that make central referral difficult is the subject of this article. Ten patients, six surgeons, and two countries contributed to this study, which demonstrated that approximately 40% of these patients had no further hemarthroses into the affected joint and the remainder had reduced frequency and severity of bleeding. Continuous passive motion has an important place in postoperative management, and manipulation with the patient under anesthesia is of doubtful value. The possible relationship between diminished range of movement and a successful outcome in terms of abolition of hemorrhage is explored. One patient underwent synovectomy of the knee without complication; the other nine suffered significant complications.     

Recurrent hemarthrosis after total knee arthroplasty

Seven patients developed recurrent hemarthroses following total knee arthroplasty. The average interval between arthroplasty and the first bleed was more than 20 months (range, 1–30 months). All seven required open synovectomy an average of 21 months (6–31 months) after arthroplasty. Follow-up evaluation averaged 44 months (19–60 months) and all had an excellent result without further bleeds. A prolific synovitis was seen in all cases, with histologic features revealing a chronic synovitis with fibrosis and hemosiderin staining. Entrapment of the proliferative synovial tissue between the components is postulated to be the etiology for these recurrent bleeds which averaged four per patient prior to synovectomy.     

Radial head excision and synovectomy in patients with hemophilia

BACKGROUND: Chronic hemophilic synovitis of the elbow usually leads to enlargement and erosion of the radial head, resulting in mechanical blockage of forearm rotation, synovial impingement, recurrent hemarthrosis, and pain. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the intermediate-term results of radial head excision and synovectomy in a large group of patients with hemophilia who had been managed at a single institution. METHODS: Information on forty radial head excision and synovectomy procedures that had been performed at our institution from 1969 to 2004 was retrospectively collected. All but one of the operations had been performed in patients with severe hemophilia. The mean age of the patients at the time of the procedure was thirty-three years. Pain, limited range of motion, and bleeding were the indications for surgery. The mean duration of follow-up was 7.7 years. RESULTS: Only one postoperative complication was observed: a posterior interosseous nerve palsy that fully resolved by six months. No additional surgical intervention for bleeding was required in sixteen of the nineteen elbows in which bleeding was one of the indications for surgery. Of the forty elbows, seven required a secondary surgical procedure at a mean of five years after the excision of the radial head. Examination of the mean range of motion at the time of the latest follow-up demonstrated a 63 degrees increase in the pronation-supination arc (p < 0.00001) but only a 2 degrees increase in the flexion arc. CONCLUSIONS: Radial head excision in patients with hemophilia is an effective procedure for improving forearm rotation and reducing pain and bleeding frequency, with a low risk of complications.