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Aim: Several risk factors are associated with heterotopic bone formation following total hip replacement. All these risk factors were defined in cohorts without any treatment against postoperative ectopic bone. The aim of this prospective study was to reveal risk factors for the development of postoperative ossifications in patients who underwent a 7-day course of indomethacin therapy., Methods: 211 consecutive patients with 217 cementless total hip arthroplasties were included. Patients were given 100 mg indomethacin daily in a 7-day course., Results: Grade 2 or 3 ossifications were observed in 13 (5%) of the male and 3 (2%) of the female Individuals postoperatively (p = 0.0043; odds ratio = 0.45). Older individuals (p = 0.0021; odds ratio = 1.03) as well as patients with primary osteoarthritis (p = 0.0307; odds ratio = 0.28) also showed a higher risk for developing ectopic bone formations., Conclusion: With a 7-day course of indomethacin after total hip arthroplasty, male and elderly individuals, as well as patients with primary osteoarthritis, are considered to be at high risk to develop heterotopic ossifications postoperatively. Indomethacin reduces the incidence of postoperative ectopic ossifications, but not the patient's risk.

Aim: This retrospective study aimed at the statistical identification of risk factors for dislocation for a certain cementless hip endoprothesis., Material and Method: At our department 2605 primary total hip arthroplasties were performed between 1987 and 1997. In 40 patients (1.5%) a dislocation occurred. These patients were compared with a control group matched in number., Results: No difference was found in both groups with respect to age, height, weight, body-mass index, and diagnosis. A tendency was found that more males were involved in the dislocation group. There were more previous operations found in this group (p = 0.005). Also significant was the fact, that patients in the dislocation group more often had epidural anaesthesia (p = 0.02), more often the implantation of the smaller 28-mm head (vs. 32 mm) (p = 0.02), and a higher inclination angle of the acetabular component (p = 0.02). No difference was found in terms of the surgeons experience, the postoperative leg length, femoral offset, medialisation, cranialisation and antetorsion of the acetabular component., Conclusion: Dislocation after total hip arthroplasty is a multifactorial complication. With the use of the Alloclassic/Zweymüller total hip endoprothesis, a higher risk for dislocation was found for patients with previous hip surgery, the use of the smaller endoprosthesis head, a high acetabular inclination angle, and in the use of epidural anaesthesia.