Orthopaedic complications in sickle cell disease. A comparative study from two regions in Saudi Arabia.

The haematological and orthopaedic complications of patients with sickle cell disease from two different regions of Arabia are presented. Nineteen patients from the South-western region were matched for age and sex with an equal number from the Eastern region. The mean sickle cell haemoglobin was 75.95% in those from the South-west and 77.5% in those from the East. The haemoglobin concentration was marginally lower in the Eastern region patients at 9.19 g/% compared with 9.51 g/%. Bone and joint infections occurred in 17% of Eastern region patients and in 15% in those from the South-western region. There was no significant difference between the haematological parameters and the orthopaedic complications in the two regions. We conclude that these complications are severe in the Eastern region and the disease is not benign as previously thought. Aggressive treatment of orthopaedic complications is indicated in sickle cell disease in the Eastern region.