News When tissue ossifies around the hip prosthesis
Ossifications of muscles, tendons or connective tissue sometimes occur around a newly implanted hip prosthesis. The reasons for these changes are generally unclear. Our research team has investigated the influence of these ossifications on patients' perception and satisfaction.
In a healthy body, bone tissue only builds up in the bones themselves. If this happens outside the bones, it is known as heterotopic ossification. This can affect soft tissue such as muscles, tendons or connective tissue. These kinds of soft tissue ossifications are occasionally observed after hip prostheses have been implanted. The effect of these changes on patient satisfaction has been unclear until now.
In a study of 401 patients with hip prostheses, we investigated how often these kinds of changes can be observed in the X-rays and to what extent soft tissue ossifications have an impact on patient satisfaction. To this end, we used standardised questionnaires to ask patients about function and satisfaction.
Only very large ossifications have a negative effect.
The results of the study show that these kinds of ossifications occur in just under a third of patients. However, most are small and do not have a negative impact for the majority of patients. Large ossifications occur only very rarely. Only the largest ossifications have a negative effect on function and patient satisfaction. Heterotopic ossification occurred less frequently in cases involving more experienced surgeons.
