The sensitivity of ultrasound screening examination in detecting heterotopic ossification following spinal cord injury.

STUDY

DESIGN

Retrospective chart review.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the role of sonography in detecting heterotopic ossification (HO) following spinal cord injury (SCI).

SETTING

Department of Spinal Cord Injury and Department of General and Trauma Surgery, BG University Hospital Bergmannsheil Bochum, Ruhr University Bochum, Germany.

METHODS

Between January 2003 and December 2013, 217 patients with HO of the hips met the inclusion criteria and were included in the final analyses. The diagnosis of HO was carried out in all cases using our hospital protocol. Primary outcome measure was to calculate the sensitivity of ultrasound screening examination in detecting HO following SCI.

RESULTS

The diagnosis of HO was confirmed in 217 patients after a mean interval of 64.8 days (range from 8 to 295; s.d.=40.4) via computerized tomography or magnetic resonance imaging scan. In 193 out of 217 patients, suspicious HO signs were noted in the ultrasound screening examination (sensitivity=88.9%).

CONCLUSIONS

The use of ultrasound for screening for HO in SCI patients is reliable and has a high sensitivity.