Introduction
Ankle arthropathy is highly prevalent among people with haemophilia (PwH), even with prophylaxis, and leads to pain and disability. Mechanisms and consequences of painful symptoms related to ankle arthropathy have not been extensively studied.
Methods
A consecutive sample of 30 adult PwH was included (60 ankles). Ankle structure was assessed with magnetic resonance imaging (IPSG‐MRI) and ultrasound (HEAD‐US). The HJHS 2.1 assessed function of ankles and knees. Physical functioning was assessed with the Timed Up and Go test, the 2‐Minute Walking Test and activity limitations with the HAL questionnaire. Health‐related quality of life was evaluated using the EQ‐5D‐5L questionnaire. Overall pain severity was examined using the Brief Pain Inventory questionnaire and ankle pain intensity with a visual analogue scale. Pressure pain thresholds with an algometer assessed pain sensitivity. Spearman correlations were used to calculate interrelations between joint structure, function and pain.
Results
Twenty‐five PwH (83%) reported ≥1 painful joint, with 67% reporting the ankle as most painful joint. MRI‐confirmed abnormalities were seen in 76% of talocrural and 55% of subtalar joints. HEAD‐US abnormalities were seen in 93% of the ankles. A large variation was seen in pain sensitivity at the ankle. While moderate to high correlations were observed between ankle structure and HJHS, no meaningful correlations were found between MRI‐scores and pain intensity or sensitivity.
Conclusions
Structural joint damage is present in many ankles but is not related to pain in PwH. Further studies should consider somatosensory nervous system dysfunction in PwH as contributing factor to painful ankle arthropathy.
Introduction: People with haemophilia (PwH) suffer from knee and ankle joint pain, but the association with structural damage remains underexplored. They report activity limitations but it is unclear which factors contribute to lower limb activity limitations (LL-AL). Aims: This study aimed (i) to analyse the association between ankle joint pain and structure and (ii) explore the contribution of haemophilia-related, individual and psychological factors to LL-AL in PwH. Methods: This study included 104 moderate/severe PwH. Ankle pain intensity was assessed with a numeric rating scale and pain sensitivity with algometry (pressure pain threshold (PPT A )). Ankle structure was assessed with MRI (IPSG-MRI) and ultrasound (HEAD-US), joint health with the Haemophilia Joint Health Score (HJHS). The HAL-LOWCOM subscore evaluated LL-AL. A Spearman correlation analysed the correlation between ankle pain and structure. The contribution of haemophilia-related factors (joint health, overall pain (Brief Pain Inventory-Pain Severity (BPI-PS)), functional status (2-Minute-Walking-Distance, Timed Up and Go); individual factors (age, BMI) and psychological factors (fear and avoidance beliefs over physical activity (FABQ-PA) and work (FABQ-Work), anxiety and depression) to LL-AL was explored using a regression analysis.Valérie-Anne Chantrain and Sylvain Guillaume contributed equally to this study.
Teaching Point:
Bicompartmental bucket handle meniscal tears are very rare occurrences that can result in menisci fragments superimposition in the intercondylar notch, referred to as the triple posterior cruciate ligament sign.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.