Risks and challenges of orthopaedic invasive interventions in haemophilia in a low-resource country. A single-center experience.
Haemophilic arthropathy is a defining feature and a debilitating condition of persons with haemophilia (PwH) in low resource countries. Orthopaedic surgery is unavoidable for patients with high occurrence of joint damage.


OBJECTIVE
We aimed to evaluate the spectrum and outcome of invasive orthopaedic therapies in PwH and von Willebrand diseases (VWD).


METHODS
Our descriptive observational retrospective study included 131 invasive surgical procedures, performed on 76 consecutive patients, most of them (93.4%) with severe disease, treated in Timisoara's Haemophilia Center over a period of 12 years; 17.1% had pre-operation anti-FVIII inhibitors. Invasive elective procedures were predominant (90.8%) as compared to emergency measures (9.2%); according to their invasiveness, 20.6% of interventions were major, 44.3% intermediate and 35.1% minor. Results were good in the majority of cases; significantly reduced joint bleed rate and pain score were the most consistent achievements. The greatest proportion of complications occurred after major (66.7%), compared to moderate (25.6%) and minor (7.7%) interventions. The main threatening complication was the development (3.8%) or increase (4.6%) of inhibitor titer. Local bacterial infections and wound dehiscence complicated the evolution in 4.6% and 0.8 % of cases, respectively; we noticed no blood-borne infections or thrombotic accidents. Low dosage (10.7%) and short duration of substitution (21.4%) led to increased post-surgical bleeding and post-haemorrhagic anaemia.


CONCLUSIONS
Surgery is a highly demanding intervention in haemophilia, which cannot be ignored in a low resource country. It represents a life or limb-saving and quality of life-improving measure.
M
M
Serban
D
D
Poenaru
J
J
Patrascu
E
E
Ursu
D
D
Savescu
H
H
Ionita
C
C
Jinca
L
L
Pop
S
S
Talpos-Niculescu
L
L
Ritli
S
S
Arghirescu
Assistant Prof. Mihailov Maria-Delia, Children`s Emergency Hospital `Louis Turcanu`, 3 rd Pediatric Clinic, Dr. I. Nemoianu Street No 2 Timisoara 300011, Romania, Tel. +40/256/295.977, Fax +40/256/295.978, E-mail: delimih@gmail.com.
D
D
Mihailov
W
W
Schramm
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001174:Arthrodesis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002648:Child; D003906:Developing Countries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005169:Factor VIII / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006395:Hemarthrosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007595:Joint Prosthesis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011292:Premedication / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012383:Romania / Q000453:epidemiology; D017678:Sex Distribution; D055815:Young Adult
D005169:Factor VIII
Haemophilia; haemophilic arthropathy; orthopaedic intervention