Platelet-rich plasma application and heterotopic bone formation following total hip arthroplasty

Activated blood platelets play a critical, early role in the wound healing response by releasing several types of growth factors at the site of injury which mediate the initial stages of tissue repair. Autologously derived platelet-rich plasma has been applied during surgery as a healing aid and some studies have shown benefit with total joint arthroplasty procedures such as in the knee. However, little has been published regarding the use of platelet-rich plasma during total hip arthroplasty. The hip is especially prone to develop islands of heterotopic bone following arthroplasty which can lead to pain, limited motion, and even ankylosis of the joint. If this condition is exacerbated by platelet-rich plasma, this could present a barrier to the use of this adjuvant in total hip arthroplasty. This retrospective, controlled clinical study examined the effect of platelet rich plasma application during closure following total hip arthroplasty on heterotopic ossification. By one year, 21.3% of the control patients developed heterotopic bone (91 patients, 94 hips, Brooker grades I-III) compared to 12.9% of the treatment patients (76 patients, 85 hips, Brooker grades I-II). These differences were not significant (p = 0.478, power = 0.90). Thus, the use of platelet-rich plasma in this procedure does not appear to influence the incidence or severity of heterotopic ossification which should help to justify further clinical research to more fully understand whether this autologous blood product has a role in total hip arthroplasty.