Simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty in patients with end-stage hemophilic arthropathy is a safe and cost-effective treatment for HA, according to an article in Nature.
Here are four things to know:
1. HA is a common complication that affects over 90 percent of hemophilia patients before the age of 30, often affecting multiple joints including the knee and hip and leading to loss of function and permanent disability in the end stage.
2. The authors investigated the cost-effectiveness, safety and clinical outcomes of simultaneous bilateral TKA in HA, transfusion requirements, complications, costs, hospital stays, Hospital for Special Surgery knee scores, knee range of motion and revision rates compared with unilateral TKA in HA patients.
3. A total of 36 patients and 54 knees were included in the study. The bilateral group did not require more transfusions and did not have greater consumption of coagulation factors, complications, hospital stays or costs excluding prostheses compared to the unilateral group.
4. The groups showed similar medium-term HSS knee scores.
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