Does indomethacin reduce heterotopic bone formation after operations for acetabular fractures?
Author(s): Matta JM, Siebenrock KA Affiliation(s): University of Berne, Inselspital, Switzerland. Publication date & source: 1997-11, J Bone Joint Surg Br., 79(6):959-63. Publication type: Clinical Trial; Randomized Controlled Trial We have studied prospectively the effect of indomethacin on the development of heterotopic ossification (HO) after the internal fixation of acetabular fractures. After operation 107 patients randomly received either a six-week course of indomethacin or no treatment against HO. Plain radiographs of 101 patients at a mean of 7.9 months after surgery showed HO in 47.4% of the 57 patients who received indomethacin and in 56.8% of the 44 who did not. This difference was not statistically significant. Heterotopic ossification of Brooker class II or more was seen in four patients (7%) with prophylaxis and in one without (p = 0.51). Measurements of the volume of HO on 3-D CT reconstructions showed a median value of 1.5 cm3 in patients with indomethacin and 4.0 cm3
