Abstract:

BACKGROUND: According to the guidelines of World Hemophilia Association, joint replacement should ensure the activity of coagulation factors in patients.
OBJECTIVE: To summarize the safety and validity of coagulation factor replacement in hemophilic arthritis patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA).
METHODS: Between 1997 and 2006, we performed TKA on 4 hemophilic arthritis patients with 6 knee joints. Under the cooperation with the Hematology Department, we monitored levels of factors Ⅷ and Ⅸ perioperatively, and established routine process of factor replacement, according to the guideline of World Hemophilia Association, and factor replacement had been performed.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Hemophilic patients who had undergone therapy of perioperative coagulation factor replacement could suffer treatment of TKA. There was no significant difference in the amount of bleeding between patients with hemophilia and those with either of rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis (P=0.885). Intraarticular bleeding occurred in 3 knees of 2 patients, and another with formation of inhibitor, which led to incision split in 1 knee. The wound healed well after treatment of epluchage. No other early or further complications had occurred. The average preoperative KSS score was 28.2 points, and the average functional score was 35 points, as compared to the postoperative average scores of 85.2 points by KSS and 87 for function. Recovery of the hemophilic arthritic knee was similar to the result of a regular TKA, while there were increases of three times in the hospitalized days and 2.5-3 times to the cost of a regular replacement surgery. Coagulation factor replacement and monitoring of coagulation factor levels are the key to the success of TKA in hemophilic arthritis patients.