Recurrent hemarthrosis after knee joint arthroplasty: etiology and treatment

Abstract

This study reports the results for 10 patients with recurrent hemarthrosis after knee joint arthroplasty. The average interval between arthroplasty and the first instance of hemarthrosis was at 26 months, and the average number of hemarthroses per patient was 3.8. In 3 patients, the bleeding responded to simple conservative measures. The remaining 7 needed surgery; there were 6 arthroscopic synovectomies and 1 polyethylene revision. Impingement of the proliferative synovium was observed in only 2 patients during surgical intervention. In the 2 patients in whom arthroscopic management was successful, another procedure with an electric coagulator, in addition to a formal synovectomy, was performed. The use of a coagulator may be helpful for direct coagulation when arthroscopic management is selected, although open synovectomy is curative in most cases.