Stages of Haemophilic Arthropathy

Abstract

As stated above, haemophilic arthropathy is a single, long process which starts as an acute intraarticular haemarthrosis and eventually leads to disabling regression through several episodes of bleedings, destruction of cartilage and degenerative changes of the subchondral bony tissue [112–122]. Its course is slow and progressive, although not without episodes of relative comfort, and there are no specific clinical, pathomorphological or radiological signs that would allow the distinction of characteristic stages of the disease. Nevertheless, for practical reasons, some sort of staging becomes necessary to characterize the patient’s condition. In the present work we do not wish to critically analyse the various attempts at staging that have been undertaken, and adapt König’s classical stages [76] which, despite their obvious shortcomings, still appear to be superior to subsequent classifications.