[Arthropathy and late changes in thalassemia major. A case report]

Z Orthop Ihre Grenzgeb. 1994 Nov-Dec;132(6):482-5. doi: 10.1055/s-2008-1039473.
[Article in German]

Abstract

Patients with beta-thalassemia develop a specific osteoarthropathy as they approach the second life decade. Radiological changes included osteopenia, widened medullary spaces, thin cortices with coarse reticulations, evidence of microfractures, premature epiphysiodesis of long bones and skeletal deformations. The fact that currently patients with beta-thalassemia have a longer life expectancy may explain the recent observations in this case report of this entity, which should become more familiar to orthopaedic surgeons who treat thalassemia patients in the future.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Bone Diseases, Metabolic / diagnostic imaging
  • Contracture / diagnostic imaging
  • Contracture / etiology
  • Epiphyses / diagnostic imaging
  • Foot Deformities, Acquired / diagnostic imaging
  • Foot Deformities, Acquired / etiology
  • Humans
  • Joint Deformities, Acquired / diagnostic imaging
  • Joint Deformities, Acquired / etiology*
  • Male
  • Radiography
  • beta-Thalassemia / complications*