Heterotopic ossification in children with burns: two case reports.

Heterotopic ossification is the formation of ectopic bone in soft tissue, and has been reported as a rare complication in pediatric burn patients. At our hospital, two 86% body surface area burn patients developed heterotopic ossification in the shoulder, elbows, distal femur, proximal tibia, fibula, and ribs approximately four months after the burn injury. These two rare and unusual cases are presented documenting the clinical involvement, radiological studies, laboratory data, as well as treatment of their heterotopic ossification. Discussion will focus on the incidence, diagnosis, pathophysiology, and treatment of heterotopic ossification in burn patients and how this information relates to the specific diagnosis and management of the complication of heterotopic ossification in the burn child.