Rehabilitation in haemophilia--options in the developing world.

Musculoskeletal care is provided in many different settings by many different providers. Physicians are better prepared to treat acute diseases, acute manifestations and have problems in following chronic patients and to preventing losses of functional independence. Haematoma affecting muscles and joints is the most common musculoskeletal finding in haemophilic patients. Proper treatment is fundamental to prevent disability. Treatment aims at restoring the original muscle trophism and strength because joint stability is dependent on the uniform distribution of muscle power over different joint surfaces. Physical rehabilitation continues until complete anatomical and functional recovery is achieved. Coordination and proprioceptive stimulation complement the exercises to recover original muscle strength. Recurrent haemorrhages usually progress to chronic synovitis, the leading cause of motor disability and joint degeneration in haemophilic patients. Moreover, chronic synovitis is a predisposing factor for repetitive episodes of haemarthrosis, a leading cause of joint deformities and severe muscle atrophy. At this point, an efficient treatment alternative should be put into effect to restrain bleeding and prevent synovitis-related joint degeneration, which is synovectomy. Synovectomy is an effective alternative, less costly and easier to perform. Rifampicin synovectomy is advantageous because it is safe, not aggressive to the patient, can be repeated if necessary, and it does not prevent the use of either radiotherapy or surgery after, if necessary. Once the sequelae have set in, treatment tends to be conservative, and it aims at giving the patient functional independence for gait and other activities. The most common limb deformities seen in these patients are knee and elbow flexion, but the patient should also be assessed for compensatory scoliosis, hyperlordosis and lower limb length discrepancies. Chronic joint pain is a rather common complaint in this patient population with early arthrosis, and special drugs and physical treatment must be put into action. Rehabilitation is often inexpensive and very efficient.