Ankle - Anterior View
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Classification
Case code:
CV-ANT-L-A1097
Joint:
Ankle
View:
Anterior
Severity:
Mild
Patient
Age:
62 years
Sex:
Male
Condition:
Hemophilia B moderate (FIX 3%)
Joint ROM:
Dorsiflexion 15°, Plantarflexion 45° (slightly reduced)
History
Patient diagnosed with moderate hemophilia B at age 8 following excessive bleeding after minor trauma. Received on-demand treatment throughout childhood and adolescence due to limited factor availability in the 1970s-80s. Started prophylaxis at age 45 after multiple joint bleeds. Right ankle has experienced 3 documented hemarthrosis episodes over past 5 years, all following minor trauma (twisting injury, stepping off curb). Most recent episode 8 months ago, resolved with factor replacement and RICE protocol within one week. Reports occasional mild ankle stiffness in the morning (resolves within 15-20 minutes) and mild discomfort after prolonged standing or walking >1 hour. Currently on prophylaxis with recombinant FIX 1500 IU twice weekly.
Physical Examination
Ankle inspection shows no obvious swelling or deformity. Minimal effusion detectable only with experienced palpation techniques. No erythema or warmth. Slight tenderness on deep palpation of anterior joint line. Range of motion mildly reduced: dorsiflexion 15° (normal 20°), plantarflexion 45° (normal 50°), with mild sense of anterior tightness at end-range dorsiflexion. Muscle strength intact with 5/5 throughout. Gait normal without limp. Able to perform single-leg heel raises ×15 repetitions (slight fatigue compared to expected ×20). Single-leg stance >25 seconds, slightly reduced from optimal. No ligamentous instability on stress testing.
Ultrasound Findings
Ultrasound examination in anterior view reveals early changes:
- Anterior joint capsule: mild thickening (2.5mm)
- Anterior recess: minimal synovial proliferation, trace effusion
- Talar dome: early cartilage surface irregularities
- Distal tibial surface: minimal changes
- Mild synovial thickening with minimal hyperemia
- Bony surfaces: minimal cortical irregularity
- No significant osteophytes or erosions
- Extensor tendons: normal appearance
Anatomical Zones
Tibiotalar joint anterior recess
The anterior recess demonstrates early pathological changes consistent with mild hemophilic arthropathy, showing initial synovial proliferation and subtle articular surface alterations from recurrent low-grade hemorrhagic insults.
Synovial thickness and effusion:
2.8mm synovial thickening; trace effusion (2mm)
Findings:
The anterior recess of the tibiotalar joint shows mild pathological alterations indicating early hemophilic involvement. The synovial membrane demonstrates mild thickening measuring 2.8mm (normal <1mm), appearing as a hypoechoic band lining the anterior capsule. The synovial echostructure is slightly heterogeneous rather than uniformly thin, suggesting early synovial proliferation. A small amount of anechoic to minimally hypoechoic fluid (approximately 2mm in anterior-posterior dimension) is visible within the recess, representing trace joint effusion. This fluid contains few internal echoes, suggesting relatively recent or chronic effusion without acute hemorrhagic components. The talar dome cartilage shows early surface irregularities with loss of the perfectly smooth contour seen in normal joints. The cartilage thickness appears relatively preserved (1.3-1.5mm) but the superficial layer demonstrates focal areas of slight irregularity, particularly in the central weight-bearing zone, measuring approximately 4x2mm. These irregularities appear as subtle undulations of the cartilage-fluid interface rather than frank erosions. The underlying subchondral bone of the talus maintains its hyperechoic cortical line, though very close inspection reveals minimal irregularity (1-2 small areas of 0.5mm cortical discontinuity) suggesting early erosive changes. The distal tibial articular surface appears relatively well-preserved with only minimal irregularity of the anterior lip, where a small area (2x1mm) shows slight cortical irregularity without frank osteophyte formation. The joint space width remains within normal limits (3-4mm) with preserved parallel alignment of articular surfaces, though slight asymmetry is noted with marginally wider spacing medially (3.8mm) versus laterally (3.2mm). Two small hyperechoic foci (1mm each) are visible within the anterior recess, possibly representing early hemosiderin deposits or tiny debris particles from previous hemorrhagic episodes. Color Doppler examination reveals mild increase in synovial vascularity with 2-3 small vessels (0.3-0.5mm diameter) penetrating the synovial membrane, indicating low-grade inflammatory activity. The vascular pattern is organized and sparse rather than the chaotic hypervascular pattern seen in more severe disease. Power Doppler confirms the presence of flow within the thickened synovium, with signal intensity grade 1 (minimal vascularity). The anterior joint capsule shows mild thickening (2.5mm versus expected <2mm) with slightly irregular fibrous architecture, though overall continuity is maintained. The anterior tibial lip demonstrates minimal irregular thickening without definitive osteophyte formation - this represents early reactive change rather than established degenerative alterations. Dynamic examination during passive dorsiflexion shows the anterior recess opening normally, though the synovial tissue appears slightly less mobile with subtle restriction of normal fold patterns. During plantarflexion, the recess collapses but maintains slightly more residual fluid than expected in a normal joint. No impingement or mechanical block is demonstrated during range of motion. The subcutaneous tissues anterior to the capsule appear normal without edema or inflammatory changes. The extensor retinaculum maintains normal thickness and echostructure. Overall, these findings represent early-stage hemophilic arthropathy with predominant synovial and superficial cartilage involvement, without established destructive changes to deeper structures.
Direct Comparison
Compare this case with reference cases of different severity grades for in-depth analysis.
Cases available for comparison: 3 of 3 possible
Additional Notes
This case represents early-stage hemophilic arthropathy of the ankle with mild alterations detected on ultrasound that are subclinical or minimally symptomatic. The score indicates minimal structural damage with excellent potential for stabilization or reversal with optimal hemostatic management. The patient's late start of prophylaxis (age 45) likely contributed to development of these early changes, highlighting the importance of early prophylaxis initiation to prevent joint damage. However, the relatively mild presentation despite decades without prophylaxis may reflect his moderate rather than severe hemophilia phenotype. Current management includes continuation of prophylaxis with consideration of increasing frequency to three times weekly if breakthrough bleeding occurs. Physical therapy has been prescribed focusing on ankle proprioception, dorsiflexion range of motion exercises, and gastrocnemius-soleus stretching to address the mild restriction. Patient education emphasizes activity modification to avoid high-impact activities and twisting motions that could provoke hemorrhage. Close monitoring with repeat ultrasound in 6-8 months is recommended to assess for progression versus stabilization of the synovial and cartilage changes. The prognosis is good with appropriate prophylaxis adherence and joint protection strategies. This case demonstrates the value of ultrasound in detecting early subclinical joint changes before significant functional impairment develops, allowing for intervention at a stage where disease modification may still be possible.