Objective      To compare the early preventive effects of celecoxib-radiotherapy combined therapy and single therapy on the myositis ossificans following surgical treatment for elbow joint.       Methods      Clinical data of elbow joint trauma patients in our hospital from January 2008 to January 2013 were collected and retrospectively analyzed. A total of 244 patients were enrolled and followed up effectively

and they were divided into celecoxib group (n=77)

local radiotherapy group (n=65)

and combined therapy group (n=102). The clinical outcomes were assessed in regard of hospital for special surgery (HSS) functional rating scores

numerical rating scale (NRS)

range of motion (ROM)

and radiographic findings in the last follow-up.       Results      The HSS functional rating score and ROM [93.04±6.68 and 124.02°±15.61°] in the combined therapy group were significantly better than [89.61±9.62 and 116.36°±23.81°] in the celecoxib group (P0.01) and [89.92±9.21 and 117.23°±17.96°] in the radiotherapy group (P0.05). The NRS score and the morbidity of myositis ossificans were improved more in the combined therapy group

but the differences were not statistically significant compared with the 2 single therapy groups (P0.05). No obvious adverse events were found in the 3 groups.       Conclusion      The combined therapy of celecoxib and local radiotherapy is superior to the single therapy in the early preventive effect of myositis ossificans following surgical treatment for elbow joint

and there are no obvious adverse events.