Tribune News Network
Doha
A specialised multidisciplinary clinic that is helping individuals with haemophilia to prevent musculoskeletal complications, has cared for more than 25 patients since its establishment last November.
The clinic, which is located at Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) Bone and Joint Center, is the first of its kind in the country and its establishment has meant that patients with haemophilia now have access to a more streamlined pathway when accessing orthopaedic care.
According to Dr Mohamed Mubarak al Ateeq al Dosari, senior consultant and head of the Orthopedic Surgery Department and director of the Bone and Joint Center, the establishment of the new specialised clinic is significant as it enables patients with haemophilia to receive all their orthopaedic care in a single location.
"Haemophilia is a condition that requires lifelong medical care from a multi-specialty team of healthcare professionals. The establishment of this clinic is noteworthy because we offer patients a unique depth of expertise in addressing their musculoskeletal system care needs and all of the care they need can be accessed in a more organised manner,” said Dr Ateeq.
Dr Hasan Azzam Abu Hejleh, associate consultant, Surgery, Bone and Joint Center, said haemophilia is a rare and typically inherited bleeding disorder in which the blood doesn’t clot normally.
He said the severity of the condition depends on the amount of factor VIII or factor IX in the blood, with the disease being classified as mild, moderate or severe.
"Patients with haemophilia may bleed for a longer time than others after an injury. They may also experience bleeding inside their body (internally), especially in the knees, ankles and elbows. People with severe haemophilia usually experience spontaneous frequent bleeds into their muscles or joints and this bleeding can damage the organs and tissues and may be life-threatening. Chronic musculoskeletal complications
and joint damage caused by prolonged bleeding is one of the major complications of haemophilia,” said Dr Abu Hejleh.
While haemophilia is rare, with type A haemophilia affecting around one in 10,000 people and type B haemophilia affecting approximately one in 50,000 people, Dr Abu Hejleh said the majority of adult patients with the condition will experience chronic degenerative changes in multiple major joints.
He said preventative orthopaedic care can help improve their prognosis and noted that the new clinic will help those living with haemophilia to access individualised treatment in a more streamlined way.
"Most adults with severe haemophilia suffer from damage in the knees, ankles and/or elbows. Chronic joint damage causes pain and limits range of motion. When the pain is severe and interferes with the activities of daily living, orthopaedic surgery is often the best option,” said Dr Abu Hejleh.
He added, "While there have been many successful outcomes for individuals with haemophilia who have had orthopaedic surgery – specifically, reduced pain and discomfort, and significantly improved quality of life, coordinated, specialised multi-disciplinary preventive treatment (prophylaxis/prophylactic treatment) can help reduce or delay the need for surgery.
"Our new clinic provides dedicated, multi-specialty care and involves several specialties, including orthopaedics and physical therapy, all in one location. This new clinic will greatly benefit Qatar’s haemophilic population and result in better health outcomes for those managing this lifelong condition.”
Muhammed Rafeeque, a specialised physiotherapist trained to care for haemophilia patients, said physiotherapy is also an important part of the puzzle.
He said, under the guidance of Noora al Mudahka, chief of Physiotherapy, physiotherapists working at Hamad General Hospital can help patients identify joint function deterioration, provide pain relief, increase joint range and improve strength and flexibility.
"For many patients, physiotherapy offers the best chance to return to a functional level of activity and has a major role in rehabilitating patients after orthopaedic interventions. For patients with haemophilia, special functional scores are designed to evaluate their condition to detect functional loss early so it can be addressed as soon as possible. This offers patients the best chance to regain their function and prevent further damage,” said Rafeeque.
Doha
A specialised multidisciplinary clinic that is helping individuals with haemophilia to prevent musculoskeletal complications, has cared for more than 25 patients since its establishment last November.
The clinic, which is located at Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) Bone and Joint Center, is the first of its kind in the country and its establishment has meant that patients with haemophilia now have access to a more streamlined pathway when accessing orthopaedic care.
According to Dr Mohamed Mubarak al Ateeq al Dosari, senior consultant and head of the Orthopedic Surgery Department and director of the Bone and Joint Center, the establishment of the new specialised clinic is significant as it enables patients with haemophilia to receive all their orthopaedic care in a single location.
"Haemophilia is a condition that requires lifelong medical care from a multi-specialty team of healthcare professionals. The establishment of this clinic is noteworthy because we offer patients a unique depth of expertise in addressing their musculoskeletal system care needs and all of the care they need can be accessed in a more organised manner,” said Dr Ateeq.
Dr Hasan Azzam Abu Hejleh, associate consultant, Surgery, Bone and Joint Center, said haemophilia is a rare and typically inherited bleeding disorder in which the blood doesn’t clot normally.
He said the severity of the condition depends on the amount of factor VIII or factor IX in the blood, with the disease being classified as mild, moderate or severe.
"Patients with haemophilia may bleed for a longer time than others after an injury. They may also experience bleeding inside their body (internally), especially in the knees, ankles and elbows. People with severe haemophilia usually experience spontaneous frequent bleeds into their muscles or joints and this bleeding can damage the organs and tissues and may be life-threatening. Chronic musculoskeletal complications
and joint damage caused by prolonged bleeding is one of the major complications of haemophilia,” said Dr Abu Hejleh.
While haemophilia is rare, with type A haemophilia affecting around one in 10,000 people and type B haemophilia affecting approximately one in 50,000 people, Dr Abu Hejleh said the majority of adult patients with the condition will experience chronic degenerative changes in multiple major joints.
He said preventative orthopaedic care can help improve their prognosis and noted that the new clinic will help those living with haemophilia to access individualised treatment in a more streamlined way.
"Most adults with severe haemophilia suffer from damage in the knees, ankles and/or elbows. Chronic joint damage causes pain and limits range of motion. When the pain is severe and interferes with the activities of daily living, orthopaedic surgery is often the best option,” said Dr Abu Hejleh.
He added, "While there have been many successful outcomes for individuals with haemophilia who have had orthopaedic surgery – specifically, reduced pain and discomfort, and significantly improved quality of life, coordinated, specialised multi-disciplinary preventive treatment (prophylaxis/prophylactic treatment) can help reduce or delay the need for surgery.
"Our new clinic provides dedicated, multi-specialty care and involves several specialties, including orthopaedics and physical therapy, all in one location. This new clinic will greatly benefit Qatar’s haemophilic population and result in better health outcomes for those managing this lifelong condition.”
Muhammed Rafeeque, a specialised physiotherapist trained to care for haemophilia patients, said physiotherapy is also an important part of the puzzle.
He said, under the guidance of Noora al Mudahka, chief of Physiotherapy, physiotherapists working at Hamad General Hospital can help patients identify joint function deterioration, provide pain relief, increase joint range and improve strength and flexibility.
"For many patients, physiotherapy offers the best chance to return to a functional level of activity and has a major role in rehabilitating patients after orthopaedic interventions. For patients with haemophilia, special functional scores are designed to evaluate their condition to detect functional loss early so it can be addressed as soon as possible. This offers patients the best chance to regain their function and prevent further damage,” said Rafeeque.