The surgical treatment of heterotopic ossification at the elbow following long-term coma.

Nine cases of heterotopic ossification at the elbow in seven patients who had a cerebral injury and prolonged coma were treated by excision of the extra-articular bone bridge from the humerus to the ulna. The bridge was either anterior or posterior, and did not involve the radius. The articular cartilage in all elbows showed no significant evidence of degeneration in spite of the prolonged immobility of the joints during the period of coma. Two of the patients also had resection of heterotopic bone about the hip joint which resulted in rapid reformation of bone. In all patients there was restoration of satisfactory function in the elbow operated on without reformation of bone. Follow-up was from ten months to 8.7 years.