[Preoperative radiotherapy for prevention of heterotopic ossifications after hip endoprosthesis]

Preliminary results of a prospective study which investigates the efficacy of preoperative radiotherapy (RT) for prevention of heterotopic ossification (HO) after total hip arthroplasty are summarized. A total number of 20 hip joints (18 patients) were irradiated with a single dose of 6.0 Gy < 4 hours before the surgical procedure. After an average observation period of 6.9 months (range: 6-11 months) the results were evaluated using radiological and clinical criteria. At follow-up, one case (5%) had evidence of high-grade HO (> Brooker grade II). The functional outcome quantified with the Harris score was improved by an average of 37.9 points. The authors conclude that preoperative RT is an effective alternative for postoperative irradiation.