Musculoskeletal Imaging

Sickle cell trait

a usually asymptomatic condition in which haemoglobin S is present in a heterozygous form (Hb A-S). Persons with this trait may develop sickling of the erythrocytes if the blood is exposed to low oxygen tension. In some cases musculoskeletal abnormalities occur, such as infarction of the long tubular bones, osteomyelitis and septic arthritis. Osteonecrosis of the femoral head and haemarthrosis has also been reported.

DR