What is hemarthrosis?
A person with a hemarthrosis has bleeding inside a joint. The bleeding is usually caused by an injury, which damages blood vessels inside the joint. The blood vessels bleed, resulting in a collection of blood inside the joint. Hemarthrosis is more common in those with a bleeding disorder, such as hemophilia, and in those who take blood thinners.

What are the symptoms of hemarthrosis?
Symptoms of hemarthrosis include joint swelling and joint pain. Symptoms of hemophilia include prolonged bleeding, bleeding into the joints, joint swelling, joint pains, knee pain, bleeding gums, fatigue, nose bleeding, excessive bruising, blood in the stool, black stool, and a rash that looks like bruises or broken blood vessels.

How does the doctor treat hemarthrosis?
Treatment for hemarthrosis depends on the underlying cause. Treatment may include rest, a sling, crutches, or a walker. Treatment for hemophilia includes intravenous clotting factor, fresh frozen plasma, epsilon aminocaproic acid, desmopressin, and gene therapy.