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Selective COX-2 Inhibitors Significantly Reduce the Occurrence of Heterotopic Ossification After Hip Arthroscopic
Ehud Rath1, Yaniv Warschawski1, Eran Maman1
1Division of Orthopedic Surgery, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Background:
Heterotopic ossification (HO) after hip arthroscopic surgery is a common complication and may be associated with clinical sequelae such as pain, impingement, and decreased range of motion. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly used medications for reducing or preventing HO.
Hypothesis/Purpose:
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of short-term selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors used for HO prophylaxis after hip arthroscopic surgery. The hypothesis was that postoperative HO prophylaxis with 600 mg etodolac once daily for 2 weeks would significantly reduce the incidence of HO after hip arthroscopic surgery when compared with no prophylaxis.
Study Design:
Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.
Methods:
Between July 2010 and April 2014, a total of 263 consecutive patients underwent hip arthroscopic surgery, performed by a single surgeon, for various pathological abnormalities at 1 medical center. The initial 163 patients received no postoperative NSAID prophylaxis for HO, and the subsequent 100 patients received 600 mg etodolac once daily for 2 weeks postoperatively. Prophylaxis compliance data, gastrointestinal side effects, and postoperative radiographs for HO were monitored.
Results:
A total of 100 control patients and 63 study patients met the inclusion criteria. The mean follow-up period was 12.88 months. No significant differences were observed in terms of age, sex, follow-up, or procedures performed. No gastrointestinal bleeding was observed. Radiographic findings of HO were present in 36 of 100 control patients with 17, 15, and 4 classified as having Brooker grades 1, 2, and 3, respectively. No patients in the study group presented with HO, and a significant difference in the HO rate between groups was observed (P < .0001).
Conclusion:
HO after hip arthroscopic surgery is a relatively common complication, with a rate of 19% for Brooker grade ≥2 in the patients who did not receive NSAID prophylaxis. No HO was found in the patients who received short-term COX-2 inhibitor prophylaxis. The short-term administration of 600 mg etodolac once daily for 2 weeks was found to be safe and effective in preventing HO in patients undergoing hip arthroscopic surgery. HO prophylaxis protocols based on short-term etodolac treatment may be considered after hip arthroscopic surgery.
