Severe heterotopic ossification after a shoulder arthroscopy : a rare clinical presentation

Heterotopic ossification is a well-known complication after orthopaedic surgical procedures, with a pre-dilection of the hip and elbow. Heterotopic ossification is a rare complication after shoulder arthroscopy and is rarely clinically significant. We report a case of a 65-year old Caucasian man with a slow and painful recovery after arthroscopic shoulder surgery encompassing rotator cuff repair, biceps tenotomy and acromioplasty, with recurrence of impingement symptoms unresponsive to conservative therapy (physiotherapy and one sub- acromial injection). He developed a severe heterotopic ossification at the acromial insertion of the deltoid and in the coraco-acromial ligament. This was successfully treated by arthroscopic excision of the lesion and postoperative prophylactic therapy with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.