OBJECTIVE: To assess whether joint lavage, viscosupplementation and triamcinolone improve joint pain, function and quality of life in patients with severe hemophilic arthropathy. METHODS: Fourteen patients with knee and/or ankle hemophilic arthritis with and without involvement of other joints underwent joint lavage and subsequent injection of hylan G-F20 and triamcinolone in all affected joints. The patients answered algo-functional questionnaires (Lequesne and WOMAC), visual analog scale for pain (VAS) and SF-36 preoperatively, and at one, three, six and twelve months postoperatively. RESULTS: Sixteen knees, 15 ankles, 8 elbows and one shoulder were treated in 14 patients. Six patients had musculoskeletal bleeding [ankle (1), leg muscle (2) and knees (4)] at 3 months affecting the results. Pain did not improve significantly. Function improved (WOMAC p=0.02 and Lequesne p=0.01). The physical component of SF-36 improved at all time points except at 3 months, with best results at one-year follow-up (baseline = 33.4; 1 month = 39.6; 3 months= 37.6; 6 months 39.6 and 1 year = 44.6; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Joint lavage followed by injection of triamcinolone and hylan G-F20 improves function and quality of life progressively up to a year, even in severe hemophilic arthropathy. Level of Evidence IV, Case Series.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar se a viscossuplementação com ácido hialurônico em pacientes com artropatia hemofílica grave associada com triancinolona após a lavagem articular com soro fisiológico melhora a dor, a rigidez, a função e a qualidade de vida. MÉTODOS: Onze pacientes com artrite hemofílica de joelhos com e sem acometimento de outras articulações (tornozelos e cotovelos) foram submetidos a lavagem articular com soro fisiológico e subsequente infiltração de hilano e triancinolona em todas as articulações acometidas. Responderam os questionários algo-funcionais (WOMAC e Lequesne), escala analógica visual para dor (VAS) e SF-36, no pré-operatório, e com um e três meses de pós-operatório. RESULTADOS: A dor (VAS e WOMAC dor) e a rigidez (WOMAC rigidez) não apresentaram melhora significativa (p=0,3; p=0,2; p=0,1, respectivamente). Porém a função apresentou uma melhora significativa dada pelo WOMAC função e total (11 pontos em média, p=0,04 e p=0,001, respectivamente). A pontuação no questionário de Lequesne não variou significativamente (p=0,1). Porém tantos os componentes mental como físico do SF 36 tiveram melhoras clinicamente relevantes e significativas (p=0,002). CONCLUSÃO: A lavagem articular com soro fisiológico seguida pela infiltração de corticosteroide e hilano é efetiva no tratamento da artropatia hemofílica, sobretudo na melhora funcional e na qualidade de vida. Nível de Evidência IV, Série de casos.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether viscosupplementation with hyaluronic acid in patients with severe hemophilic arthropathy associated with triamcinolone after washing with saline improves joint pain, stiffness, function and quality of life. METHODS: Eleven patients with hemophilic arthritis of the knee with and without involvement of other joints (elbows and ankles) underwent joint lavage with saline and subsequent injection of Hylan and triamcinolone in all affected joints. The patients answered the algo-functional (Lequesne and WOMAC), visual analog scale for pain (VAS) and SF-36 (quality of life) questionnaires preoperatively, and at one and three months postoperatively. RESULTS: Pain (VAS and WOMAC pain) and stiffness (WOMAC stiffness) did not show significant improvement (p = 0.3, p = 0.2, p = 0.1, respectively). However function had significant improvement given by WOMAC total and function (averaging 11 points, p = 0.04 and p = 0.001). There was no significant variation in scores in Lequesne's questionnaire (p = 0.1), yet both mental and physical components of SF-36 presented clinically relevant and significant improvements (p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Joint lavage with saline followed by injection of corticosteroids and Hylan is effective in the treatment of hemophilic arthropathy, especially in functional improvement and quality of life. Level of Evidence IV, Case series.