Synovectomy of the knee in young patients with hemophilia.

We performed 16 synovectomies of the knee in 14 children, adolescents, and young adults with hemophilia A for boggy synovium due to hemophilia. Pain was eliminated or decreased in all patients postoperatively. The number of bleeding episodes was dramatically decreased in all patients at three-year follow-up. Some knee motion was lost in five patients. A continuous passive motion machine used in patients operated upon later in the series appears to be beneficial in regaining motion. Synovectomy did not appear to alter the course of joint destruction, especially if done late.