Thrombin Hemostatic Matrix Reduces Heterotopic Ossification in Acetabular Fractures Fixed Through the Kocher-Langenbeck Approach.

Abstract

To determine whether an injectable thrombin product [thrombin hemostatic matrix (THM)] at closure of a Kocher-Langenbeck approach reduces the risk of heterotopic ossification (HO) formation after an acetabular fracture. Case control. Two Level 1 trauma centers. Patients with operatively treated acetabulum fractures fixed through Kocher-Langenbeck from 2013 to 2018. Records were reviewed for demographics, history of traumatic brain injury, HO medication or radiation prophylaxis, THM (Surgiflo, Ethicon, Bridgewater New Jersey) administration, and length of follow-up. Radiographs were reviewed for dislocation, fracture, Letournel and Orthopaedic Trauma Association classifications, HO, and Brooker grade if applicable. Patients receiving HO prophylaxis (eg, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and radiation) were excluded. Remaining patients were divided into 2 groups: THM administration (intervention) and no THM. Continuous variables were compared using t-tests and categorical variables with chi-square or Fisher's exact tests. Risk ratios for the association between HO occurrence and THM administration. Three-hundred and twenty-eight acetabular fractures met inclusion criteria (126 intervention, 202 control) in patients with a mean age of 38.7 ± 15.9 years; 62.2% were male, and 42.1% were African American. Traumatic brain injury and posterior dislocation rates were equivalent between groups (P = 0.505, 0.754, respectively). HO rate in the control group was 42.6% compared with 21.4% in the THM group (P < 0.001). Booker grade 3/4 in control group was 17.3% versus 3.2% in the THM group (P < 0.001). Patients receiving THM had a 50% reduced risk of HO (95% confidence interval 0.35-0.73) compared to those who did not; adjustment for age, gender, ethnicity, and traumatic brain injury did not meaningfully change the association (risk ratio 0.46; 95% confidence interval 0.29-0.73; P < 0.001). The use of a surgiflo product at closure of a KO approach may reduce the risk of HO formation by 50% after an acetabular fracture. Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.