Heterotopic Ossification

Case Description:

There is heterotopic ossification involving the left proximal femur on this Hologic scan in a patient with spinal cord injury. Heterotrophic ossification means the presence of bone in soft tissues. Heterotopic ossification may occur from spinal cord injury, nervous system injury, and musculoskeletal trauma. The left hip scan would not be useable for diagnosis or followup. The accompanying radiograph shows bilateral heterotopic ossification of the hips.

Credit:

Sarah L Morgan, MD, RD, CCD, The University of Alabama at Birmingham

References:

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• Schneider, D.L., Pitfalls in interpretation: calcium that’s not bone. J Clin Densitom, 1998. 1(4): p. 405-6.
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• Dey, D., et al., The traumatic bone: trauma-induced heterotopic ossification. Transl Res, 2017. 186: p. 95-111.
• Ohlmeier, M., et al., Muscle localization of heterotopic ossification following spinal cord injury. Spine J, 2017.
• Stewart, C.A., et al., Heterotopic ossification. Effect on dual-photon absorptiometry of the hip. Clin Nucl Med, 1990. 15(10): p. 697-700.