Hemophilic arthropathy of the elbow.

We investigated the characteristics of hemophilic arthropathy of the elbow joint in 32 patients 5-12 years of age who had been followed-up from infancy. Restriction of forearm rotation and elbow extension was the most common finding in the joints with recurrent hemarthrosis. Limitation of rotation resulted mainly from hypertrophy of the radial head. Advancement of bone age was also commonly observed in the joints with hemarthrosis. Mild to moderate hemophilic arthropathy was associated with greater advancement of bone age than was severe arthropathy. There was a discrepancy between the growth of the intraarticular subchondral epiphyseal cartilages and the cartilages of the medial and lateral epicondyles (apophyseal cartilage). This differential growth may be an important factor in the development of complicated and variable hemophilic elbow deformities.