Radiotherapy in the prevention of heterotopic ossification after arthroplasty

Heterotopic ossification (HO) is defined as the formation of mature lamellar bone in nonosseous tissues. HO is a common problem following total hip replacement (THR) and surgical repair of traumatic acetabular fracture (TAF). Without receiving any kind of prophylaxis the incidence of HO in patients with THR is about 30-80%. The etiology of this disorder is not well understood. The treatment of symptomatic HO is excision of heterotopic bone. Radiation therapy is a safe and effective metod for prevention of HO. The present article extensively reviews the clinical studies to define the role of radiotherapy for prevention of HO.