Prevention of Ectopic Bone Related Pain and Disability After Hip Replacement Surgery With Peri-Operative Ibuprofen

• Self-reported pain and physical function (WOMAC)
  

• Health-related quality of life (SF36v2)
  
• Patients' global assessment
  
• Physical performance measures: hip flexion, 50ft walk time, up and go.
  
• Major bleeding events: bleeding from wound > 3 days, evacuation of wound hematoma, hematemesis, melaena, other.
  

Methodology:

The study is a multicentre, randomised, double blind, placebo-controlled trial. 1000 patients undergoing elective total hip replacement surgery from 20 orthopaedic centres in Australia and New Zealand will be assigned to receive either ibuprofen (1200mg daily) or matching placebo in 3 divided doses for 14 days. Study treatment will be started postoperatively on the day of surgery. Patient should not receive any other NSAIDs, apart from low dose aspirin, during the 14-day treatment period, unless such treatment becomes definitely indicated, in which case the study treatment should be withdrawn and open label treatment provided. There will be no other changes to standard care.

Participants:

All patient scheduled for elective total hip replacement surgery, or revision thereof, are potentially eligible unless there is a definite indication for or contraindication to treatment with a NSAID during the 14-day treatment period.

Randomisation:

Randomisation will be performed centrally using a computer-based system that can be accessed 24 hours a day by a toll-free telephone call. A minimisation program will stratify treatment allocation by centre.

Outcomes:

The primary outcome are self-reported pain and physical function, 6 to 12 months after randomisation. Secondary outcomes include health-related quality of life, patients' global assessment, radiographic evidence of ectopic bone.