Nonarticular Complication of Heterotopic A Clinical Review Ossification

Varghese G, Williams K, Desmet A, Redford JB. Nonarticular complication of heterotopic ossification: a clinical review. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 1991;72:1009-13. Heterotopic ossification (HO) is a complication in neurologic lesions such as head injury and spinal cord injury. Limitation of range of motion and ankylosis as results of HO are well documented. In this report, ten instances of onarticular complications after development of HO are described. There were three instances of vascular com- pression, five instances of ulnar nerve compression at the elbow, and two instances of suspected lymphedema. Clinical findings and radiographic evidence of these complications are described. Clinicians should be aware of these com- plications when HO is diagnosed. In addition, HO should be considered in the differential diagnosis of deep venous thrombosis in spinal cord injured and head injured patients.