Modulation of the Surgical Inflammatory Response by Etoricoxib

Inclusion Criteria: * Subject undergoing elective primary single hip arthroplasty * Subject diagnosed with Osteoarthritis / arthrosis * Subject has not taken non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs within 4 of their terminal half life times prior to enrollment * Subject capable of understanding and cooperating with the requirements of the study Exclusion Criteria: * Patients with renal insufficiency (serum creatinine \>1.5 mg/dl) * Recent major trauma or systemic infection (within 3 months) * Use of corticosteroid medication or chronic opioids (within 3 months) * Any other condition likely to affect prostaglandin and cytokine levels * Participation in another clinical study or receipt of an investigational drug within 30 days * Hypersensitivity to any component of the etoricoxib and/or placebo tablets * Uncontrolled hypertension defined as systolic blood pressure \>140 mm Hg and diastolic pressure \>90 mm Hg at rest after two repeated measurements * Congestive heart failure (NYHA II-IV) * Cerebrovascular disease * Established ischemic heart disease (including patients who have recently undergone coronary artery bypass graft surgery or angioplasty) * Patients with any kind or severity of cirrhosis of the liver or cholestasis or elevated liver function enzymes (ALT or AST 3 fold) as a sign of clinical significant liver malfunction (corresponds to any Child-Pugh-Score ≥5) * Patients who have developed signs of asthma, acute rhinitis, nasal polyps, angioneurotic oedema or urticaria following the administration of aspirin or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) * Pregnancy and lactation * Patients with active peptic ulcerations or active gastro-intestinal (GI) bleeding * Inflammatory bowel disease * Recent history (within the last year) of alcohol or other substance abuse * An employee of the sponsor or study site * Any neurological syndrome or any other condition leading to contra-indication to spinal anesthesia