Para-osteo-arthropathies in paraplegia. Personal sergical experience

The authors have observed a number of cases of ectopic ossification in patients in a rehabilitation centre for paraplegia. They review the clinical features of the condition, its frequency and its localization. The time of onset and the spontaneous evolution of the condition was found to be variable. Operations were performed on 35 joints - 16 hips, 13 knees and 6 elbows. The results are described. The authors emphasize the value of serial scintigrams before surgery to assess the maturation of ossification. Operations based on the results of such investigations appear to have been followed by a lower rate of recurrence.