Heterotopic ossification of the hip after spinal cord injury.

OBJECTIVE

To analyse the risk factors of heterotopic ossification after spinal cord injury.

METHODS

Of 104 patients with spinal cord injury, 47 (45.2%) were complicated by heterotopic ossification of the hip. These patients with heterotopic ossification were compared with 57 patients without heterotopic ossification.

RESULTS

Statistical analysis showed that complete paraplegia, spasticity and pressure sore were significantly (P < 0.05) or highly significantly (P < 0.01) related to heterotopic ossification formation. The coexistence of two or three of these factors in the paraplegic patients was found to significantly (P < 0.01) enhance the risk of heterotopic ossification formation.

CONCLUSION

When the spinal cord injured patients have single or multiple risk factors, they should be predicted for susceptibility of heterotopic ossification.