Joint Aspiration for Acute Hemarthrosis in Children Receiving Factor VIII Prophylaxis for Severe Hemophilia: 11-year Safety Data.

Objective: The aims of this study were (1) to document the prevalence of acute hemarthrosis in a cohort of 46 boys with severe hemophilia A receiving full primary prophylaxis in Western Australia (WA), and (2) to investigate the safety of the WA protocol over 11 years for management of hemarthrosis.

Methods: Case review. The WA protocol involves a pediatric rheumatologist washing out all acute hemarthrosis of large joints promptly and then instilling intraarticular (IA) corticosteroids.