Heterotopic intra-abdominal ossification in a complex ventral hernia defect

Area of Science:

• Orthopaedic Surgery
• Gastrointestinal Surgery

Background:

• Heterotopic ossification (HO) is common in joints but rare in abdominal wounds and mesentery.
• Mesenteric ossification is typically linked to severe intra-abdominal injuries and complications.

Observation:

• A patient presented with intra-abdominal HO and mesenteric involvement post-penetrating trauma.
• The patient had undergone multiple laparotomies, resulting in a complex abdominal wall hernia with loss of domain and enterocutaneous fistulae.

Findings:

• Surgical resection of bony deposits and fistula excision were performed.
• Abdominal wall reconstruction utilized component separation technique and a biologic mesh graft.

Implications:

• This case highlights a rare presentation of HO and its management challenges.
• Successful reconstruction demonstrates a viable approach for complex abdominal wall defects with mesenteric ossification.