Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 18, 2026
Direct Mouse Trauma/Burn Model of Heterotopic Ossification
Published on: August 6, 2015
Predicting Heterotopic Ossification Early After Burn Injuries: A Risk Scoring System
Jeffrey C Schneider1, Laura C Simko, Richard Goldstein
1*Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA †Shriners Hospitals for Children-Boston, Boston, MA ‡Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Boston, MA §Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA ¶University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI ||Balliol College, University of Oxford, UK **University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX ††University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX ‡‡Shriners Hospital for Children-Galveston, Galveston, TX §§University of Washington, Seattle, WA.
A new scoring system helps identify burn patients at risk for heterotopic ossification (HO). This tool aids in early diagnosis and potential prophylactic trials for this debilitating condition.
Area of Science:
- Burn injury research
- Orthopedic complications
- Medical scoring systems
Background:
- Heterotopic ossification (HO) is a debilitating complication following burn injuries.
- The exact mechanisms of HO in burns are not fully understood.
- Currently, there are no universally effective prophylactic measures for HO in burn patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a risk scoring system for heterotopic ossification (HO) in burn patients.
- Stratify patients upon hospital admission based on HO risk.
- Facilitate early identification for potential interventions.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Burn Model System National Database (1994-2010, n=3693).
- Employed logistic regression to identify significant predictors of HO.
- Developed and validated a 13-point risk scoring system.
Main Results:
- Total body surface area (TBSA) burned and need for grafting in specific body regions were significant predictors of HO.
- The developed risk scoring system demonstrated high predictive accuracy (c-statistic = 0.92).
- Internal and external validation confirmed the model's robustness. An online calculator is available.
Conclusions:
- The developed HO risk scoring system effectively stratifies burn patients.
- Identifies high-risk individuals for targeted diagnostic testing.
- Supports enrollment in interventional trials for HO prophylaxis.
