Ectopic bone formation in children and adolescents with head injuries: its management.

During an 11-year prospective study at Kennedy Memorial Hospital for Children (Brighton, MA), ectopic bone formation occurred in 22 of 145 children and adolescents admitted in coma following head injury. Subsequent deformities and limitation of motion were an impediment to rehabilitation in 15 of these patients, who recovered from the coma. Several bone excision procedures, either alone or in conjunction with other physical and/or pharmacological modes of treatment, were followed by recurrence of ectopic bone until salicylates were used. The latter eliminated or minimized recurrence of ectopic bone. The study suggests a useful role for salicylates not only in preventing recurrence, but also in minimizing the occurrence of ectopic bone formation in these patients.