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

Because of frequently recurring haemarthrosis which could not be controlled by conservative management 19 haemophiliacs were subjected to synovectomy on a total of 23 joints—17 knees, S elbows, and 1 hip. The patients were followed for an average of 23 months. 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 months the findings in the remaining, mobile 19 synovectomized joints were: 12 had been relieved of haemorrhage, 5 had rare and two frequent haemorrhages. The reduction in the number of haemorrhages was significant (p<0.01). In the light of the complicated postoperative course it is concluded that synovectomy should be used only on strict indications, viz. only in otherwise intractable cases of progressing haemophilic arthropathy.