Radiosynovectomy in haemophilia

Radiosynovectomy (RS) is a simple, effective and safe procedure for the control of haemophilic synovitis that causes repetitive haemarthrosis. It must be done after confirming clinically (hard and painless mass on palpation) and by ultrasonography the existence of synovitis in a joint with recurrent haemarthrosis. RS should be the first invasive option (instead of arthroscopic synovectomy) for treatment of chronic synovitis. The technique is highly cost effective in comparison to arthroscopic synovectomy. The indication for RS is the presence of repeated haemarthroses associated with synovitis (confirmed clinically and by imaging techniques) that cannot be controlled by means of haematological treatment. No increase in the risk of cancer has been published and the dose of radiation utilized in RS is minimal. In haemophilic patients with recurrent haemarthrosis, RS should be performed under factor coverage as soon as possible, once the existence of synovitis has been confirmed by ultrasonography. RS should really be considered as a useful adjunctive procedure to the primary intervention, which is intensive replacement therapy.