PREVENTIVE EFFECTS OF IBUPROFEN ON PERIARTICULAR HETEROTOPIC OSSIFICATION AFTER TOTAL HIP-ARTHROPLASTY - A RANDOMIZED DOUBLE-BLIND PROSPECTIVE-STUDY OF TREATMENT TIME

We determined the efficacy and the minimum treatment time necessary fo r prophylaxis with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for p eriarticular heterotopic ossification (HO) after total hip arthroplast y (THA). Using a double-blind placebo controlled design, 144 patients operated on with total hip arthroplasty for primary arthrosis were tre ated postoperatively with (1) ibuprofen for 3 weeks, (2) ibuprofen for 1 week and placebo for the next 2 weeks or (3) placebo for 3 weeks. R adiographic occurrence of periarticular heterotopic ossification and c omplications of the treatment were recorded for the first year. Both i buprofen-treated groups showed significantly less HO than the placebo- treated group. There was no difference in HO between the patients trea ted for 8 or 21 days postoperatively. Both 8 and 21 days of treatment with ibuprofen following THA effectively prevents clinically significa nt degrees of HO. No serious short-term complications of the treatment were noted.