WASHINGTON, DC, December 20, 2021 – The Hemophilia Federation of America (HFA) offers monthly educational webinars for patients, caregivers and healthcare providers and is launching their 2022 series on January 18 at 7:00 pm ET with Dr. James Luck, Jr., Director of Surgical Services at the Orthopaedic Institute for Children at UCLA Health. Dr. Luck will discuss joint replacements for bleeding disorder patients.
“Important decisions about managing your bleeding disorder arise at various stages, but few decisions are as complex and layered as whether and when to pursue joint replacements. In HFA’s first educational webinar of the year, Dr. James Luck Jr. will cover the ins and outs of joint replacement specifically for those with bleeding disorders,” says Eric Burgeson, Manager of Education for HFA. “Pursuing joint replacement with a bleeding disorder is not a simple topic. Making a choice to replace a joint requires education – from specific to joint types, to bleeding disorder types, age and lifestyle differences for each patient.”
The most common complication of hemophilia and other bleeding disorders is joint disease. People with bleeding disorders can bleed into the joint space after an injury or, at times, without obvious cause. The pressure of blood filling the joint cavity causes significant pain and can lead to chronic swelling and deformity. Joint damage can occur after repeated bleeding into the same joint or after one serious joint bleed. The joints typically affected include the elbows, ankles, and knees. These complications become worse with decreased activity due to pain and stiffened joints, which leads to a vicious cycle of pain and inactivity.
“We will cover many important topics in 2022, one main focus is joint health”, said Heather Case, HFA’s Director of Education. “Joint health, pain management, and mental health are intrinsically related and arguably, joint health is a root issue for our community.”
Dr. Luck is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon specializing in hemophilia disorders, bone and soft tissue tumors, and joint reconstruction. Dr. Luck has been actively involved with the Hemophilia Treatment Center since 1968 and has performed more reconstructive surgeries on hemophilia patients than almost any other surgeon in the world.
Patients with bleeding disorders and their caregivers are encouraged to attend the webinar on January 18 at 7:00 pm ET.
Watch the recording
