Joint debridement in the treatment of advanced hemophilic knee arthropathy.

Joint debridement by a meticulous surgical technique has been performed for advanced knee arthropathy in three hemophiliacs between the ages of 22 and 27. The results at follow-up evaluation, ranging from one to five years, have been surprisingly good. The procedure involves comparatively little surgical trauma and appears to have a low rate of complications. Knee joint debridement should be considered in the young hemophilic patient as a means of avoiding or at least delaying more extensive operations such as arthrodesis or arthroplasty. Joint debridement may give the patient years of pain-free, independent, and gainfully employed life with a minimum of surgical trauma.