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Updated: Mar 30, 2026
Direct Mouse Trauma/Burn Model of Heterotopic Ossification
Published on: August 6, 2015
Posttraumatic intra-articular heterotopic ossification of the shoulder joint in a 15-month-old boy
Sung Il Wang1, Seung Min Choi1, Eun Hae Park2
1Department of Orthopaedics Surgery, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences and Research Institute of Clinical Medicine of Chonbuk National University-Biomedical Research Institute of Chonbuk National University Hospital, 567 Baekje-ro, Dukjin-gu, Jeonju, 561-756, Republic of Korea.
Insights
Heterotopic ossification (HO) is a rare bone growth within joints. This case report details a unique instance of posttraumatic intra-articular HO in a healthy infant
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Pediatric Radiology
- Pathology
Background:
- Heterotopic ossification (HO) is abnormal bone formation in soft tissues.
- Causes include trauma, burns, and central nervous system injuries.
- Intra-articular HO is rare, especially in children.
Observation:
- A 15-month-old boy presented with an intra-articular shoulder mass.
- Clinical, radiographic, and histologic findings suggested posttraumatic HO.
- The child had no underlying hematologic disorders.
Findings:
- This is the first reported case of intra-articular HO in a healthy infant.
- The presentation mimicked a tumor due to its unusual location and age.
- Posttraumatic etiology was confirmed.
Implications:
- HO should be considered in the differential diagnosis of intra-articular masses in infants.
- This case highlights the importance of considering trauma in young children with intra-articular masses.
- Further research may elucidate the mechanisms of HO in healthy infants.
Abstract:
Heterotopic ossification (HO) can result from a single severe injury, repeated microtrauma, central nervous system injury, extensive burns, or muscular bleeding due to hemophilia. Although relatively rare in childhood and extremely rare within a joint, HO should be included in the differential diagnosis of an intra-articular mass when indicated by clinical, radiographic, and histologic findings. Here, we report a posttraumatic intra-articular HO of the shoulder joint in a 15-month-old boy without underlying hematologic disease. Intra-articular HO in a healthy infant has not been reported previously in the published literature. Because of the unusual presentation and location in a patient of such young age, tumorigenic conditions were considered in the differential diagnosis.
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