Hemarthrosis

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Hemarthrosis
File:Lipohemarthrosis.png
Synonyms N/A
Pronounce N/A
Specialty N/A
Symptoms Joint pain, swelling, stiffness
Complications Joint damage, arthritis
Onset Sudden, often after trauma
Duration Variable, depending on cause and treatment
Types N/A
Causes Trauma, bleeding disorders (e.g., hemophilia), anticoagulant therapy
Risks Bleeding disorders, joint injury
Diagnosis Physical examination, imaging studies (e.g., X-ray, MRI), joint aspiration
Differential diagnosis Septic arthritis, gout, pseudogout
Prevention N/A
Treatment Rest, ice, compression, elevation (RICE), aspiration, surgery
Medication Analgesics, anti-inflammatory drugs
Prognosis Good with treatment, but depends on underlying cause
Frequency Common in individuals with bleeding disorders or after joint trauma
Deaths N/A


X-ray of knee hemarthrosis
X-ray of knee hemarthrosis

Etiology[edit]

Hemarthrosis literally means blood in the joint

Definition[edit]

It is defined by bleeding into and swelling of a joint

Causes[edit]

Most cases are either due to trauma, injection, surgery or bleeding disorders

Signs and symptoms[edit]

  • Swelling
  • Pain
  • Limitation in joint movement
  • Risk of infection
  • Warmth

Diagnosis[edit]

  • A physical examination and history
  • Synovial Fluid analysis - Reddish-colored hue of the sample is an indication of the blood being present.
  • X-rays, CT/MRI imaging, and or joint aspiration

Treatment[edit]

Treatment depends on the cause and may include pain control, anti-inflammatory medications, antibiotics, synovectomy and or surgery.

Hemarthrosis
Hemarthrosis

Hemophilia and hemarthrosis[edit]

In hemophilia it may occur spontaneously, and recurrent hemarthroses are a major cause of disability in hemophilacs leading to hemophilic arthropathy, requiring synovectomy, joint replacement. Reducing hemarthroses events using intravenous administration of blood clotting factor concentrate on a regular basis starting in early childhood, reduces joint deterioration and increases the person's quality of life compared to "on demand" treatment is recommended.

Complications[edit]

Up to a quarter of all severe ligament or capsular knee injuries leading to a haemarthrosis are associated with cartilage damage that can lead to progressive degenerative arthritis.[1]



  1. Goldberg A, Stansby G "Surgical Talk" 2nd edition

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