The effect of pulsed irrigation on the incidence of heterotopic ossification after total hip arthroplasty

Heterotopic ossification (HO) is a common complication of total hip arthrop lasty (THA). Pulsed lavage is being used with increasing frequency for THA. A prospective randomized, double-blind trial was initiated to determine if pulsed lavage affected the incidence of HO. A total of 94 THAs in 91 patie nts were analyzed. No significant difference in the incidence of HO was fou nd between the 2 groups. Hypertrophic osteoarthritis was found to be a sign ificant risk factor for HO. The findings suggest that the osteogenic precur sor cells thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of HO possibly are der ived from within the local soft tissues in the proximity of the hip joint.