Total Knee Arthroplasty in People with Hemophilia: Higher Incidence of Periprosthetic Joint Infection and 1-Year Revision/Re-Operation than the General Population and Lower Prosthetic Survival When Early Postoperative Bleeding Complications Occurred: Current Literature Review.

The purpose of this narrative review of the recent literature is to analyze the outcomes, complications, and implant survival of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) carried out on people with hemophilia (PWH). It has been shown that TKA substantially alleviates preoperative pain and improves knee function and the patient's quality of life. However, the complication rates of TKA range between 8.5% and 28.7, with postoperative hemarthrosis being the most frequent (7.6%). Besides, when comparing if the TKA was implanted before or after the year 2000, a reduction was found in the rates of periprosthetic joint infection-PJI (6.2% to 3.9%) and aseptic loosening (3.8% to 2.1%). Comparing prosthesis survival between PWH who had suffered early postoperative bleeding complications (EPBC) and patients who did not suffer EBPC, the mean survival duration was 17 years for the EPBC group and 22.1 years for the non-EPBC group. Survival rates were 80% for the EPBC group and 96.4% for the non-EPBC group. Compared to patients without hemophilia, PWH had a substantially higher incidence of PJI (Odds Ratio-OR 1.6) and 1-year revision/re-operation (OR 1.4). In short, although TKA substantially improves the quality of life of PWH, it is an intervention that has a non-negligible percentage of complications. TKA in PWH should preferably be performed only in highly specialized centers for the orthopedic treatment of hemophilia.

Knee replacement surgery in a patient with acquired von Willebrand disease: a case study with recommendations for patient management.

Introduction and importance: Acquired von Willebrand disease (AvWD) is a rare underdiagnosed bleeding disorder caused by alterations in the levels of the major blood-clotting protein von Willebrand factor (vWF). The clinical and laboratory parameters of AvWD are similar to congenital vWD, but it is found in individuals with no positive family history with no underlying genetic basis. The disease remains multifactorial and incompletely understood. Proposed mechanisms include the development of autoantibodies to vWF, absorption of high molecular weight vWF multimers that impair normal function, shear stress induced vWF cleavage and increased proteolysis.The aetiology of the disease is variable, the most common being hematoproliferation, lymophoproliferation, myeloproliferation and autoimmune and cardiovascular disorders. Consensus and protocols for AvWD patients that require major surgery are currently lacking. Patients with AvWD can experience thrombotic events during surgery as a result of therapeutic interactions with pro-thrombotic risk factors. Case presentation: Here, the authors report a patient with AvWD requiring a knee prosthesis implantation due to chronic pain, limited range of motion and functional impairment. The patient had a high risk of bleeding during surgery and was at risk of thrombosis due to age and obesity. Clinical discussion: Perioperative care required a collaborative approach and the management of bleeding. The patient was administered vWF concentrate Willfact lacking Factor VIII to prevent haemorrhage and to minimize the risk of thrombosis. Conclusion: The treatment was effective and well-tolerated. The authors use this information to provide recommendations for AvWD patients for whom major surgery is indicated.

Arthroscopic ankle surgery in people with haemophilia.

INTRODUCTION: People with haemophilia (PWH) not administered primary haematological prophylaxis since childhood, that is, those treated haematologically on demand or not treated at all, often experience the degeneration of the ankles, leading to pain and functional impairment. AIM: To analyse the outcomes and complications of arthroscopic ankle surgery performed on PWH. METHODS: For this narrative review of the literature, a search was conducted in PubMed on 2, December 2023, using the keywords "haemophilia", "ankle" and "arthroscopy". Of the 29 articles identified, 15 specifically related to ankle arthroscopy in PWH were selected (inclusion criterion). The remaining articles did not meet this requirement (exclusion criterion) and were therefore eliminated. RESULTS: Arthroscopic procedures (arthroscopic synovectomy, debridement and arthrodesis of the ankle) are increasingly used in the surgical treatment of haemophilic ankle arthropathy. Although arthroscopic ankle surgery offers good outcomes in patients with haemophilia, the procedure is not free of complications, which range from 7.9% for arthroscopic ankle debridement to 13.1% in arthroscopic ankle synovectomy and 17.8% in arthroscopic ankle arthrodesis, respectively. The non-union rate of arthroscopic ankle arthrodesis is 7.1% (2/28). CONCLUSION: Although arthroscopic interventions in the haemophilic ankle (synovectomy, debridement, arthrodesis) offer good functional outcomes, they are associated with a non-negligible rate of complications. Arthroscopic ankle surgery in PWH is major surgery and should be treated as such.

A post hoc comparative real-world analysis of HEAD-US score for joint health assessment of patients with severe haemophilia A and B in Spain.

AIM: Joint damage due to haemarthrosis can be effectively monitored with point-of care ultrasound using the Haemophilia Early Arthropathy Detection with US (HEAD-US) scoring system. A post hoc comparative analysis of the joint status of patients with severe haemophilia A (HA) or B (HB) was performed. METHODS: The databases of two observational, cross-sectional studies that recruited patients with HA or HB from 12 Spanish centres were analysed to compare the status of the elbows, knees and ankles in patients with severe disease according to treatment modality. The HEAD-US score was calculated in both studies by the same trained operators. RESULTS: Overall, 95 HA and 41 HB severe patients were included, with a mean age of 35.2 ± 11.8 and 32.7 ± 14.2 years, respectively. The percentage of patients who received prophylaxis, over on-demand (OD) treatment, was much higher in HA (91.6%) than in HB (65.8%) patients. With a similar number of target joints, the HEAD-US score was zero in 6.3% HA and 22.0% HB patients (p < .01), respectively. The HA population showed significantly worse HEAD-US scores. Whilst osteochondral damage occurred more frequently in patients OD or tertiary prophylaxis, our data suggest that articular damage is less prominent in primary/secondary prophylaxis, regardless of the type of haemophilia. These latter treatment modalities were also associated with a lower prevalence of synovial hypertrophy, particularly in HB patients. CONCLUSION: This post hoc analysis indicates that joint status seems to be significantly influenced by haemophilia type (HA or HB) and treatment modality in these severe Spanish populations with severe disease. Continuing HEAD-US monitoring for the early detection and management of intra-articular abnormalities, as well as more efficiently tailored therapies should be warranted.

The Role of Physical Exercise in Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain: Best Medicine-A Narrative Review.

The aim of this paper is to provide a narrative review of the effects of physical exercise in the treatment of chronic musculoskeletal pain. Physical inactivity and sedentary behavior are associated with chronic musculoskeletal pain and can aggravate it. For the management of musculoskeletal pain, physical exercise is an effective, cheap, and safe therapeutic option, given that it does not produce the adverse effects of pharmacological treatments or invasive techniques. In addition to its analgesic capacity, physical exercise has an effect on other pain-related areas, such as sleep quality, activities of daily living, quality of life, physical function, and emotion. In general, even during periods of acute pain, maintaining a minimum level of physical activity can be beneficial. Programs that combine several of the various exercise modalities (aerobic, strengthening, flexibility, and balance), known as multicomponent exercise, can be more effective and better adapted to clinical conditions. For chronic pain, the greatest benefits typically occur with programs performed at light-to-moderate intensity and at a frequency of two to three times per week for at least 4 weeks. Exercise programs should be tailored to the specific needs of each patient based on clinical guidelines and World Health Organization recommendations. Given that adherence to physical exercise is a major problem, it is important to empower patients and facilitate lifestyle change. There is strong evidence of the analgesic effect of physical exercise in multiple pathologies, such as in osteoarthritis, chronic low back pain, rheumatoid arthritis, and fibromyalgia.

Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy for the Treatment of Musculoskeletal Pain: A Narrative Review.

Extracorporeal shock waves are high-intensity mechanical waves (500-1000 bar) of a microsecond duration with a morphology characterized by a rapid positive phase followed by a negative phase. BACKGROUND: Extracorporeal shock waves have been used for pain treatment for various sub-acute and chronic musculoskeletal (MSK) problems since 2000. The aim of this article is to update information on the role of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) in the treatment of various pathologies that cause MSK pain. METHODS: Given that in the last two years, articles of interest (including systematic reviews and meta-analyses) have been published on less known indications, such as low back pain, nerve entrapments, osteoarthritis and bone vascular diseases, a literature search was conducted in PubMed, the Cochrane Database, EMBASE, CINAHL and PEDro, with the aim of developing a narrative review of the current literature on this topic. The purposes of the review were to review possible new mechanisms of action, update the level of evidence for known indications and assess possible new indications that have emerged in recent years. RESULTS: Although extracorporeal shock waves have mechanical effects, their main mechanism of action is biological, through a phenomenon called mechanotransduction. There is solid evidence that supports their use to improve pain in many MSK pathologies, such as different tendinopathies (epicondylar, trochanteric, patellar, Achilles or calcific shoulder), plantar fasciitis, axial pain (myofascial, lumbar or coccygodynia), osteoarthritis and bone lesions (delayed union, osteonecrosis of the femoral head, Kienbock's disease, bone marrow edema syndrome of the hip, pubis osteitis or carpal tunnel syndrome). Of the clinical indications mentioned in this review, five have a level of evidence of 1+, eight have a level of evidence of 1-, one indication has a level of evidence of 2- and two indications have a level of evidence of 3. CONCLUSIONS: The current literature shows that ESWT is a safe treatment, with hardly any adverse effects reported. Furthermore, it can be used alone or in conjunction with other physical therapies such as eccentric strengthening exercises or static stretching, which can enhance its therapeutic effect.

Chronic pain in haemophilia: assessment and analgesic treatment.

People with haemophilia tend to experience pain from an early age because of venipuncture and hemarthrosis. If pain is not properly managed, it can become chronic and bedevil patients throughout their lives. Therapies are currently available that have been shown to effectively treat the different types of pain and their causes. Patients with haemophilia tend to experience either nociceptive or mixed pain. Identification of the cause of pain by means of imaging techniques, and understanding the characteristics, location and intensity of the pain, are essential for a more targeted therapeutic approach. Current data reveal that the most effective measures are administration of haematological and analgesic medication, intraarticular injections, and physical exercise. However, multimodal strategies such as lifestyle changes, physical modalities, psychological support and orthopaedic surgery can also prove of use. This article will look at the most effective analgesic measures used as a part of conservative clinical treatment. Collaborative studies are needed to better understand the nature of pain in the context of haemophilia.

Orthopedic surgical procedures in people with hemophilia.

People with hemophilia tend to develop joint lesions secondary to the recurrent hemarthroses typical of their condition. These usually include chronic synovitis and arthropathy chiefly affecting their ankles, knees, and elbows. In addition, muscular hematomas, albeit less frequently, may also result in complications such as acute compartment syndrome, pseudotumors, bone cysts and peripheral nerve compression. Joint lesions may require some of the following surgical interventions: arthroscopic synovectomy (in cases of synovitis), arthroscopic joint debridement, radial head resection, opening-wedge tibial osteotomy, arthrodesis, arthrodiastasis (of the ankle), tendon lengthening (hamstrings, Achilles tendon), progressive extension of the knee by placing an external fixator in cases of flexion contracture of the knee, supracondylar femoral extension osteotomy in cases of knee flexion contracture and, eventually, a total joint arthroplasty when the affected joint has been destroyed and the patient experiences severe joint pain. Total knee arthroplasty in hemophilic patients is associated with a high infection risk (7% on average). As regards the complications following muscle hematomas, acute compartment syndrome requires urgent performance of a fasciotomy when hematological treatment is incapable of resolving the problem. Surgical resection of hemophilic pseudotumors is the best solution, with those affecting the pelvis (secondary to iliopsoas hematomas) being particularly difficult to resolve. Peripheral nerve lesions can often be effectively addressed with hematological treatment, although a surgical neurolysis of the ulnar nerve is indicated if nonoperative treatment fails.

Disability and the social impact of hemophilia.

In addition to receiving the medical treatment they need, people with hemophilia or other coagulopathies must acquire the strategies required to deal with the physical, emotional and social challenges they will encounter at the different stages of their lives. To this end, it is necessary to offer support for any uncertainty that may arise for the patient or parents upon diagnosis of the disease, and to help them develop a healthy response pattern to bleeding episodes. First years and decades of life are essential because self-image is built and the foundations for socialization are laid, making it necessary to foster communication and self-esteem. However, in later life, the social impact of the consequences of hemophilia, including disability and dependency, require the introduction of technical and human adaptations and aids. Hematological, rehabilitative, orthopedic psychological and social approaches focus on improving the individual's ability to carry out daily activities independently and facilitate social integration. Patient associations play a key role in minimizing the social impact of hemophilia. Finally, recognition of disability helps to compensate to some extent for the difficulties faced by people with hemophilia.

Long-term impact of primary prophylaxis on joint status in patients with severe hemophilia A.

Background: Primary prophylaxis with factor VIII concentrates is the therapeutic gold standard for severe hemophilia A. Although this approach will change substantially with the use of nonsubstitutive therapies, the long-term effects of primary prophylaxis remain unclear. We present information on joint health with tailored primary prophylaxis in a consecutive series at a single center. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 60 patients who did not develop early inhibitors. The annual bleeding rate and annual joint bleeding rate, prophylaxis characteristics, physical activity, adherence, and development of inhibitors were compared between those with and without joint involvement at the end of follow-up. Joint involvement was defined as a Hemophilia Joint Health Score or Hemophilia Early Arthropathy Detection with an ultrasound score ≥1. Results: Among 60 patients with median follow-up of 113 ± 6 months after starting prophylaxis, 76.7% had no joint involvement at the end of the follow-up. Those without joint involvement started prophylaxis at a younger median age (1 [IQR 1-1] year vs 3 [IQR 2-4.3] years). They also had lower annual joint bleeding rate (0.0 [IQR 0-0.2] vs 0.2 [IQR 0.1-0.5]), were more often physically active (70% vs 50%), and had lower trough factor VIII levels. Adherence to treatment was not significantly different between groups. Conclusion: Initiation of primary prophylaxis at a younger age was the main factor associated with long-term preservation of joint status in patients with severe hemophilia A.

Metaverse applied to musculoskeletal pathology: Orthoverse and Rehabverse.

The Metaverse is 'an integrated network of 3D virtual worlds.' It incorporates digitally created realities into the real world, involves virtual copies of existing places and changes the physical reality by superimposing digital aspects, allowing its users to interact with these elements in an immersive, real-time experience. The applications of the Metaverse are numerous, with an increasing number of experiences in the field of musculoskeletal disease management. In the field of medical training, the Metaverse can help facilitate the learning experience and help develop complex clinical skills. In clinical care, the Metaverse can help clinicians perform orthopedic surgery more accurately and safely and can improve pain management, the performance of rehabilitation techniques and the promotion of healthy lifestyles. Virtualization can also optimize aspects of healthcare information and management, increasing the effectiveness of procedures and the functioning of organizations. This optimization can be especially relevant in departments that are under significant care provider pressure. However, we must not lose sight of the fundamental challenges that still need to be solved, such as ensuring patient privacy and fairness. Several studies are underway to assess the feasibility and safety of the Metaverse.

Development of a telematic pharmaceutical care app (Haemoassist) for multidisciplinary follow-up of patients with congenital coagulopathies.

BACKGROUND: Guidelines for congenital coagulopathies recommend that patients record treatment administrations and bleeding episodes to help healthcare professionals monitor the disease. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We studied over two years which patient profiles (age, treatment regimen, treatment compliance) were most likely to accept the use of an app to collect this information. We validated the quality of patient-reported data by comparing it with data obtained from hospital electronic records, pharmacy dispensing records and patient interview, collected in an access database used as a reference. Patient and professional opinions were solicited through open-ended interviews. RESULTS: The app was used by 52% of 315 patients studied. Younger patients were the most frequent users. Patients with better treatment compliance used the app more, although data collection was incomplete for most patients. The best rated by patients were the reminders of days of administration and the minimum stock alerts at home. Healthcare professionals rated the app positively. CONCLUSIONS: Healthcare professionals valued the app as useful for managing treatment of congenital coagulopathies. Patients need support and time to use the app and improve the quality of the data entered. Patients who used the app rated it positively. The treatment compliance improved.

Radiosynovectomy for the Treatment of Chronic Hemophilic Synovitis: An Old Technique, but Still Very Effective.

A radiosynovectomy (RS) should be indicated when recurrent articular bleeds related to chronic hemophilia synovitis (CHS) exist, established by clinical examination, and confirmed by imaging techniques that cannot be constrained with hematological prophylaxis. RS can be performed at any point in life, mainly in adolescents (>13−14 years) and adults. Intraarticular injection (IAI) of a radioactive material in children might be arduous since we need child collaboration which might include general anesthesia. RS is our initial option for management of CHS. For the knee joint we prescribe Yttrium-90, while for the elbow and ankle we prescribe Rhenium-186 (1 to 3 IAIs every 6 months). The procedure is greatly cost efficient when compared to surgical synovectomy. Chemical synovectomy with rifampicin has been reported to be efficacious, inexpensive, simple, and especially practical in developing countries where radioactive materials are not easily available. Rifampicin seems to be more efficacious when it is utilized in small joints (elbows and ankles), than when utilized in bigger ones (knees). When RS and/or chemical synovectomy fail, arthroscopic synovectomy (or open synovectomy in some cases) should be indicated. For us, surgery must be performed after the failure of 3 RSs with 6-month interims. RS is an effective and minimally invasive intervention for treatment of repeated articular bleeds due to CHS. Although it has been published that the risk of cancer does not increase, and that the amount of radioactive material used in RS is insignificant, the issue of chromosomal and/or deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) changes remains a concern and continued surveillance is critical. As child and adulthood prophylaxis becomes more global, RS might become obsolete in the long-term.

The Limitations and Unmet Needs of the Five Cornerstones to Guarantee Lifelong Optimization of Prophylaxis in Hemophilia Patients.

Prophylaxis to prevent bleeding is highly recommended for hemophilia patients. The development of new drugs and tools for modeling personalized prophylaxis provides the means for people with hemophilia to lead active lives with a quality of life comparable to that of nonhemophilic individuals. The choice of regimens must be made on a highly individual basis. Unfortunately, reference guides neither always concur in their recommendations nor provide directions to cover all possible scenarios. In this review, a group of experts identify the significant limitations and unmet needs of prophylaxis, taking advantage of their clinical experience in the disease, and supported by a rigorous literature update. To perform a more systematic and comprehensive search for gaps, the main cornerstones that influence decisions regarding prophylactic patterns were first identified. Bleeding phenotype, joint status, physical activity, pharmacokinetics/medication properties, and adherence to treatment were considered as the primary mainstays that should allow physicians guiding prophylaxis to secure the best outcomes. Several challenges identified within each of these topics require urgent attention and agreement. The scores to assess severity of bleeding are not reliable, and lead to no consensus definition of severe bleeding phenotype. The joint status is to be redefined in light of new, more efficient treatments with an agreement to establish one scale as the unique reference for joint health. Further discussion is needed to establish the appropriateness of high-intensity physical activities according to patient profiles, especially because sustaining trough factor levels within the safe range is not always warranted for long periods. Importantly, many physicians do not benefit from the advantages provided by the programs based on population pharmacokinetic models to guide individualized prophylaxis through more efficient and cost-saving strategies. Finally, ensuring correct adherence to long-term treatments may be time-consuming for practitioners, who often have to encourage patients and review complex questionnaires. In summary, we identify five cornerstones that influence prophylaxis and discuss the main conflicting concerns that challenge the proper long-term management of hemophilia. A consensus exercise is warranted to provide reliable guidelines and maximize benefit from recently developed tools that should notably improve patients' quality of life.

Complications and Implant Survival of Total Knee Arthroplasty in People with Hemophilia.

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a commonly used option in advanced stages of knee arthropathy in people with hemophilia (PWH). The objective of this article is to determine what the complication rates and implant survival rates in PWH are in the literature. A literature search was carried out in PubMed (MEDLINE), Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Embase and Google Scholar utilizing the keywords "hemophilia TKA complications" on 20 October 2022. It was found that the rate of complications after TKA in PWH is high (range 7% to 30%), although it has improved during the last two decades, possibly due to better perioperative hematologic treatment. However, prosthetic survival at 10 years has not changed substantially, being in the last 30 years approximately 80% to 90% taking as endpoint the revision for any reason. Survival at 20 years taking as endpoint the revision for any reason is 60%. It is possible that with a precise perioperative control of hemostasis in PWH, the percentage of complications after TKA can be diminished.

The three horizons model applied to medical science.

The three horizons model is a framework that helps manage an organization's innovation strategy. This model considers three aspects (horizons) that should be present in the institution and guide the development of new systems. Applied to medical science, the horizons are considered as paradigms that set the guidelines for clinical knowledge. New technologies can influence this model by causing disruptive changes. Horizon 1 (evidence-based medicine) reflects the current paradigm and emphasizes the aspect of continuous improvement needed to strengthen it, such as with the introduction of the GRADE (Grades of Recommendation Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) methodology. Evidence-based medicine has made it possible to stop performing harmful interventions like autologous bone marrow or stem cell transplantation in cancer treatment for women with early poor prognosis breast cancer or to discontinue the erroneous belief that children should not sleep on their backs to prevent sudden infant death syndrome. Horizon 2 (real-world evidence) refers to a new model in which innovation has generated new capabilities. This change makes it possible to correct weaknesses of the previous paradigm, as in the case of pragmatic clinical trials. Real-world evidence has been used to show that drugs such as tofacitinib are effective without using methotrexate as background or to demonstrate the efficacy of chemotherapy in older patients with stage II colon cancer. Horizon 3 (precision medicine) involves a disruptive innovation, leading to the abandonment of the traditional mechanistic model of medical science and is made possible by the appearance of major advances such as artificial intelligence. Precision medicine has been used to assess the use of retigabine for the treatment of refractory epilepsy or to define a genome-adjusted radiation dose using a biological model to simulate the response to radiotherapy, facilitate dose adjustment and predict outcome in breast cancer.

Total knee arthroplasty in hemophilia: lessons learned and projections of what's next for hemophilic knee joint health.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this article has been to review the literature on total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in people with hemophilia (PWH), to mention the lessons we have learned from our own experience and to try to find out what the future of this type of surgery will be. AREAS COVERED: A Cochrane Library and PubMed (MEDLINE) search of studies related to TKA PWH was analyzed. In PWH, the complication rate after TKA can be up to 31.5%. These include infection (7.1%) and bleeding in the form of hematoma, hemarthrosis or popliteal artery injury (8.9%). In a meta-analysis the revision arthroplasty rate was 6.3%. One-stage or two-stage revision arthroplasty due to infection (septic loosening) is not always successful despite providing correct treatment (both hematological and surgical). In fact, the risk of prosthetic re-infection is about 10%. It is necessary to perform a re-revision arthroplasty, which is a high-risk and technically difficult surgery that can sometimes end in knee arthrodesis or above-the-knee amputation of the limb. EXPERT OPINION: TKA (both primary and revision) should be performed in centers specialized in orthopedic surgery and rehabilitation (knee) and hematology (hemophilia), and with optimal coordination between the medical team.

Arthropathy in people with mild haemophilia: Exploring risk factors.

BACKGROUND: It is important to investigate which factors are associated with the development of arthropathy in people with mild haemophilia (PWMH), in order to prevent it and to limit its effect on function and quality of life. PURPOSE: To examine the risk factors associated with arthropathy and to predict its presence and degree of involvement in our PWMH population. METHODS: This was an observational, cross-sectional cohort study of 85 PWMH under follow-up in our centre. Patient variables (age, body mass index, haemophilia type, genetic mutations, baseline factor levels, age at diagnosis, history of inhibitor, level of physical activity and years of practice, history of haemarthrosis and muscle haematoma) were analysed and related to the presence or absence of arthropathy and the degree of arthropathy (measured with HJHS and HEAD-US). Multivariable models were performed. RESULTS: Some 36.5% of PWMH had arthropathy. The variables that showed an independent association with the presence of arthropathy were patient age (median 42 years) and clotting factor levels (median 10.5 IU/dL). The risk of developing arthropathy increased by 7.9% for each additional year of age and decreased by 7.7% for each 1 IU/dL increase in clotting factor. When arthropathy developed, its degree of involvement might have been influenced by the type of physical activity performed. CONCLUSIONS: Patient age and factor levels appear to be the most determinant risk factors associated with the development of arthropathy in mild haemophilia. Monitoring joint health is desirable in this patient population. In patients with arthropathy, physical activities with a low risk of bleeding are the most recommended.

Clinical assessment and point of care ultrasonography: How to diagnose haemophilic synovitis.

BACKGROUND: The ability of clinical tools to identify early joint changes is limited. Synovitis is a fundamental finding in understanding haemophilia activity and the response to its therapies; thus, there is a need for sensitive methods to better diagnose subclinical synovitis early. PURPOSE: Our aim was to compare the frequency with which clinical assessment and ultrasound detected synovial hypertrophy in the most frequently affected joints in patients with haemophilia (elbows, knees and ankles). METHODS: We analysed patients with haemophilia older than 16 years who came to the haemophilia centre for routine follow-up. From the clinical assessment carried out in the consultation, the swelling, pain and history of haemarthrosis were evaluated and compared with the findings of synovial hypertrophy detected by ultrasound. This comparison was also analysed independently for elbows, knees and ankles. RESULTS: A total of 203 joints of 66 patients with haemophilia (mean age 34 years), most of them on secondary, tertiary prophylaxis or on demand treatment, were included. In joints with swelling, pain and history of haemarthrosis, 78% of the joints showed synovial hypertrophy on ultrasound. However, in joints with no swelling, no pain and no history of haemarthrosis, 40% presented subclinical synovial hypertrophy on ultrasound. This percentage was higher in elbows than in knees and ankles. CONCLUSION: In adults with haemophilia, physical examination and point-of-care ultrasound study provide complementary data on their joint disease. However, without ultrasound, the ability to detect subclinical synovitis is considerably reduced, especially in the elbows.