Total knee arthroplasty in hemophilic arthropathy

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is very effective in relieving pain and improving function in patients with advanced hemophilic arthropathy. Because of intra-articular fibrosis and extra-articular muscle contracture, the gain in motion after TKA has been unsatisfactory. The purpose of this study is to report the results of TKA in patients with hemophilia using posterior cruciate ligament (PCL)-sacrificing prostheses. From April 1987 to May 1998, 9 patients underwent 14 PCL-sacrificing TKAs for advanced hemophilic arthropathy. The average length of follow-up evaluation in surviving patients (13 knees) was 77 months (range, 25-159). A statistically significant difference was found between the preoperative and postoperative values with respect to pain score (5 vs 48), functional score (42 vs 78), flexion deformity (17degrees vs 5degrees), and flexion range (56degrees vs 81degrees). Nine complications occurred in 6 knees. One patient died from HIV-related complications, and none of the patients seroconverted to HIV during the follow-up period.