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Radiotherapy in the prevention of recurrence of paraarticular ossification in total hip prostheses

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Summary

Ectopic bone formation or paraarticular ossification after total hip arthroplasty can be a very disabling factor. In patients with this problem, range of motion and walking ability may be reduced and pain can occur. In severe cases it seems logical to remove this paraarticular ossified tissue, but without measures to prevent its recurrence this will be of no real value. This study shows the effectiveness of irradiation soon after excision of the ectopic bone mass, with a total dosage of 20 Gy (2000 rad) given in ten fractions, in preventing, or at least inhibiting, the recurrence of paraarticular ossification in 16 patients. A dramatic improvement in hip function, walking ability, and relief of pain is demonstrated.

Zusammenfassung

Periartikuläre Verknöcherungen bei Hüfttotalendoprothesen können manchmal die Endergebnisse sehr ungünstig beeinflussen. Bewegungseinschränkung, Gehbehinderung und Schmerzen sind dabei die invalidierenden Faktoren. Therapeutische Resektion der ektopischen Verknöcherung allein ist wegen der hohen Rezidivquote meistens unbefriedigend. In Kombination mit einer postoperativen Röntgenbestrahlungsserie von insgesamt 20 Gy (2000 Rad) ist es jedoch möglich die Quantität des Rezidivs bis auf ein Minimum zu beschränken. Über die so erreichte dramatische Verbesserung der Hüft-funktion, Gehfähigkeit und die Schmerzerleichterung bei sechzehn Patienten wird berichtet.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, De Wever Ziekenhuis, Heerlen, The Netherlands

    G. J. I. M. van der Werf & A. J. Tonino

  2. Department of Radiation Oncology, Radiotherapeutic Institute Limburg, Heerlen, The Netherlands

    N. G. M. van Hasselt

Authors
  1. G. J. I. M. van der Werf
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  2. N. G. M. van Hasselt
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  3. A. J. Tonino
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van der Werf, G.J.I.M., van Hasselt, N.G.M. & Tonino, A.J. Radiotherapy in the prevention of recurrence of paraarticular ossification in total hip prostheses. Arch. Orth. Traum. Surg. 104, 85–88 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00454243

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00454243

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