Hemarthrosis: How to Care for Your Child

Hemarthrosis (blood in the joint) can happen for different reasons. Most often, it is from an injury to the joint. But in people with certain medical conditions, hemarthrosis can happen even without an injury. Here's how to care for your child while they heal.

To help with pain and swelling:

• Have your child keep the joint raised as much as possible.

• Wrap ice in a towel and put on the joint area for 20 minutes every 4–6 hours for the first 2 days. 

• Wrap an elastic bandage around the joint. It should be snug but not tight.

• Give acetaminophen (such as Tylenol^® or a store brand) for pain. Check with your health care provider before giving other pain medicines as some can make bleeding worse.

Follow your health care provider's instructions for:

• whether your child needs to take any medicines

• any treatments needed for an injury

• how long your child should rest the joint

• whether your child needs to wear a brace or splint

• if your child should do any exercises or go to a physical therapist

• if your child needs to see an orthopedist (bone doctor)

• whether your child needs to see a hematologist (blood disorder doctor) or other specialist

• when to follow up

If your child has a medical condition that makes bleeding more likely (such as hemophilia), be sure you talk to your child's hemophilia care team for any specific instructions for treatment and follow-up visits.

Your child has pain and stiffness that lasts more than 1 week.

Your child has worse pain or swelling of the joint.

What causes hemarthrosis? Injuries, especially during sports, are the most common cause in kids. Hemarthrosis also can happen after surgery near a joint.

Children with hemophilia can have hemarthrosis from a very minor injury or with no injury at all. 

What problems can happen from hemarthrosis? Kids with hemophilia may get repeat episodes of hemarthrosis. This can cause permanent joint damage. If your child has hemophilia, your health care provider may recommend giving medicine on a regular schedule to prevent hemarthrosis and other bleeding.