Value of high frequency ultrasound in assessment the changes of haemophiliac arthropathy in children

Abstract

Objective To discuss the value of high frequency ultrasound in assessment the changes of knee,ankle and elbow joints with haemophiliac arthropathy in children.Methods Eighty joints of 42 haemophiliac patients were enrolled in this study.Sixty two joints of 29 patients were examined by X-ray at the same time.The correlation of ultrasonography and X-ray on bone aspects were compared.Results Among 80 joints of 42 haemophilic patients,soft tissue swelling was showed in 12 joints,synovial hypertrophy was in 48 joints,the thickness range of synovial membrane was from 2.01 to 11.12 mm [(4.71± 2.26)mm],increased blood flow was in 40 joints,effusion in 53 joints,haemosiderin was in 33 joints,bone erosion was in 36 joints,subchondral cyst formation was in 20 joints,cartilage damage or disappear was in 31 joints.Ultrasonograthy showed bone erosion in 29 joints,subchondral cyst formation was in 16 joints,cartilage damage was in 24 joints.X-ray showed bone erosion in 23 joints,subchondral cyst was in 16 joints,narrowing joint space was in 20 joints.There was high correlation between the osteochondral domain of the ultrasonography and X ray:Kappa value were 0.803,0.832,0.790 respectively(P ＜0.05).Conclusions Ultrasonography is sensitive to detect the signs of enrolled joints in hemophiliac patients.It is an important method on diagnosis for hemophiliac arthrophv. Key words: Ultrasonography; Haemophilia ; Bone diseases ; Joint diseases