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Postoperative radiation may not be needed to prevent HO in THA patients with ankylosing spondylitis
Investigators of this study found no statistically significant difference in the rates of heterotopic ossification at 12-month follow-up between patients with ankylosing spondylitis in Taiwan who received postoperative radiation as a prophylaxis and those who did not receive prophylactic treatment.
“This study suggests that postoperative radiation may not be necessary in Asian patients,” the researchers wrote in their study.
They retrospectively reviewed 129 hips from 91 patients with ankylosing spondylitis who underwent primary total hip arthroplasty (THA). Researchers categorized patients into two groups. Group 1 (38 patients) did not receive any prophylactic treatment to prevent heterotopic ossification (HO), while group 2 (53 patients) received postoperative single-fraction radiotherapy with 500 cGy within 2 days following THA and no other form of prophylaxis.
Overall, 31.7% of hips developed heterotopic ossification, according to study results. Researchers could not identify hips with class III or IV HO on radiographs. Using Booker’s classification, investigators found 26% of patients in group 1 and 36% of patients in group 2 developed HO, with most patients in both groups having grade I HO.
Harris Hip scores (HHS) improved from preoperative values in both study groups. However, researchers noted there was no significant difference in preoperative and postoperative HHS between the groups. – by Casey Tingle
Disclosures: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.