WITHDRAWN: Pharmacological interventions for treating acute heterotopic ossification

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics and Rehabilitation
• Pharmacology and Drug Discovery

Background:

• Heterotopic ossification (HO) is the pathological formation of bone in soft tissues, often complicating injuries and surgeries.
• HO can lead to significant joint dysfunction and disability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of medications in treating acute heterotopic ossification.
• To assess outcomes including radiological changes, symptoms, functional impairment, and disability.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of randomized and quasi-randomized controlled trials assessing medications for acute HO.
• Searched multiple databases (Cochrane, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL) up to August 2004.
• Analyzed trials using radiography to grade HO severity and assess treatment effects.

Main Results:

• Two trials involving disodium etidronate versus placebo in 92 participants with spinal cord injury were included.
• One study suggested disodium etidronate may prevent radiographic HO progression and improve HO grade, but results were inconsistent.
• Limited data and heterogeneity prevented pooling; long-term outcomes and side effects were unavailable.

Conclusions:

• Insufficient evidence exists to recommend disodium etidronate or other drugs for acute HO due to a lack of long-term data.
• Disodium etidronate may delay mineralization rather than prevent it, potentially negating long-term benefits.
• Further high-quality studies with adequate follow-up are necessary to assess pharmacological treatments for acute HO.