[Surgical treatment of para-articular ossifications after craniocerebral trauma]

This article reports on 45 cases in which extra-articular ossifications were removed following cranial-cerebral traumata. Radiologically detectable relapses occurred in 6% of the patients only; however, in none of these cases did the relapses lead to reankylosis of the joint. In the sagittal plane, the average gain in mobility was an increase of 84 degrees in the hip joint and of 100 degrees in the elbow joint. Considerable complications were caused by four fractures in extremely osteoporotic bones. To reduce the fracture rate, surgery should be performed as soon as possible after bone maturation. In addition, treatment of patients with craniocerebral traumata and serious concomitant conditions requires an experienced rehabilitation team.