No effective prophylaxis of heterotopic ossification with short-term ibuprofen

Ninety-five patients underwent primary total hip arthroplasty and routinely received ibuprofen for 5 days as prophylaxis for heterotopic ossification. This group was compared with a group of 99 patients who received indomethacin for 7 days as prophylaxis. After a follow-up of 1 year, the incidence of heterotopic ossification in the ibuprofen group was significantly higher than in the indomethacin group. The widespread ossification, Brooker grades III and IV, was prevented better by indomethacin than by ibuprofen. We conclude that ibuprofen for 5 days is not effective as prophylaxis for heterotopic ossification after primary total hip arthroplasty.