In-hospital outcomes following single-dose radiation therapy in the treatment of heterotopic ossification of the hip following spinal cord injury-an analysis of 444 cases.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart review.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of the study was to analyse the efficacy of single-dose radiation therapy in the treatment of heterotopic ossification (HO) following spinal cord injury (SCI).

SETTING: Department of Spinal Cord Injury and Department of General and Trauma Surgery, BG-University Hospital Bergmannsheil Bochum, Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany.

METHODS: Patients who were treated for HO around the hips following SCI at our institution between January 2003 and December 2013 were included in this retrospective cohort study. A total of 444 HO cases around the hip were treated with single-dose radiation therapy after a mean time interval of 4.9 days (0-97 days; s.d.=8.1) after HO diagnosis. Primary outcome measures were the number of HO relapses and the occurrence of adverse side effects related to the radiation therapy.

RESULTS: After a mean time interval of 63.2 days (8-295 days; s.d.=39.6) subsequent to SCI HO occurred in 207 male (84.8%) and 37 female (15.2%) patients with a mean age of 46.4 years (18-81 years, s.d.=18.2). In 200 patients both hips were affected, whereas the remaining 44 HO occurred unilateral. None of the patients suffered primary side effects due to the radiation therapy. However, in 13 out of 244 patients (5.3%), HO relapse occurred. After repeated single-dose radiotherapy, one patient suffered joint ankylosis and therefore required surgical resection.

CONCLUSION: Our results present that single-dose radiation therapy is a safe option in the treatment for spinal cord-injured patients suffering from HOs of the hips.