Early removal of periarticular ossifications in patients with head injury.

Heterotopic ossifications are a well known but serious complication in patients suffering severe head injury. Their prevalence varies between 10% and 20%. The current concept of surgery recommends removal after "maturation" of the new developed bone because of a suspected higher rate of recurrence. The observations of early operations in 6 patients and 9 joints led us to the conclusion that the disadvantages of long lasting joint stiffness and the according complications outweigh the danger of recurrence. In our patients recurrence was observed in one subject and even there recurrence was most probably the result of wound infection and concomitant osteomyelitis.