Orthopaedic Complications of Sickle Cell Disease: A Review

Abstract

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a genetic disorder of mutant haemoglobin. It is inherited as an autosomal recessive disorder and is common in the West Africa subregion. Many of its orthopaedic complications require surgical intervention and many of its diverse manifestations need to be differentiated from some surgical conditions. The surgical/anaesthetic risks due to the pathophysiology of the disease process require that the patients should be properly assessed, optimized, monitored and followed up well after definitive care. Acute care, anaesthetic preparations and immediate post operative period are critical in the care of these patients.

Keywords: sickle cell disease, orthopaedic complications, anaesthesia , Surgery.