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Direct Mouse Trauma/Burn Model of Heterotopic Ossification
Published on: August 6, 2015
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Radiation Therapy for Heterotopic Ossification: A Systematic Review
Christine Bang1, Eric Jutkowitz2, Eduardo Caputo3
1VA Maryland Healthcare System, Baltimore, Maryland.
Practical Radiation Oncology
|November 13, 2024
Summary
Radiation therapy (RT) may offer a clinically meaningful benefit for preventing heterotopic ossification (HO), despite a lack of statistical significance. This systematic review suggests RT prophylaxis could outweigh risks in high-risk patients.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Oncology
- Radiology
Background:
- Heterotopic ossification (HO) is ectopic bone formation in soft tissues, potentially causing functional impairment.
- Evidence for radiation therapy (RT) in preventing or treating HO requires systematic evaluation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review the evidence on the efficacy of radiation therapy (RT) for preventing or treating heterotopic ossification (HO).
Main Methods:
- Conducted systematic literature searches of Medline, Embase, and ClinicalTrials.gov up to April 2023.
- Included studies involving adult participants (≥18 years) with HO treated with low-dose external RT.
- Followed PRISMA guidelines for data extraction and analysis from eligible studies.
Main Results:
- Ten studies met inclusion criteria; nine randomized controlled trials had medium risk of bias.
- Analyzed 1530 participants, with 566 receiving RT post-fracture fixation or hip arthroplasty.
- Pooled data from 8 RCTs showed a nonsignificant but clinically meaningful reduction in HO with RT (OR, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.19, 1.17).
Conclusions:
- Prophylactic RT for HO demonstrated a clinically significant, though not statistically significant, benefit.
- Findings are limited by moderate risk of bias in included studies.
- RT for HO prophylaxis may offer benefits outweighing risks in high-risk individuals.
