An 8-year-old with hemophilia has a leg splinted following a traumatic injury to the knee joint. The child complains of increased pain in the affected knee. Based on these findings, the cause of the pain is most likely due to:

Explanation

•Hemophilia is a hereditary bleeding disorder that reduces clotting factors in the blood. Platelets are present, but a clot will not form. This causes the patient to bleed for a much longer time.

•Treatment includes replacement of clotting factors via blood product transfusions. Desmopressin and antifibrinolytic therapy are also sometimes used.

•A patient with hemophilia is at risk for increased bleeding. Injury to a joint can cause bleeding into the synovial membrane (hemarthrosis), resulting in pain, swelling, and limited movement.

Incorrect options:

•Muscle hypertrophy, decreased circulation to the affected extremity, and friction between adjacent articular joints are less likely to be the cause of pain in this patient with hemophilia.

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