[Influence of muscle tone and force on ossification in postcomatose patients]

68 post-traumatic brain-injured patients in postcomatose unawareness (PCU) states were admitted during 1982-1987. 32 of them also suffered from fractures of the long bones and pelvis (total of 51 limbs). The muscle tone and force of all limbs were examined and x-rays of the large joints and of the fractures were taken periodically. Periarticular new-bone formation appeared in 32 patients. Normal callus developed in 41 fractured limbs and hypertrophic callus in 18. We found that pathological muscular tone (hypertonus and hypotonus) and pathologically decreased muscle force (paresis and plegia) were closely correlated with the appearance of periarticular new-bone formation. The extent of callus formation was not correlated with muscle tone and force.