Risk Factors for High-Grade Heterotopic Ossification After Total Disc Replacement: A Single-Center Experience of 394...

Heterotopic ossification (HO) is a common complication following total disc replacement (TDR). High-grade HO is a clinically relevant complication, however, only a few studies have evaluated risk factors for high-grade HO.

To evaluate potential risk factors for HO and high-grade HO and their impact on clinical outcomes.

We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent TDR or hybrid surgery (HS) with Prestige-LP (Medtronic), Discover (Depuy), and Prodisc-C (Synthes). Clinical outcomes were assessed using Japanese Orthopaedic Association, Visual Analogue Scale, and Neck Disability Index scores. Radiological variables, including preoperative ossification, global and segmental range of motion (ROM), HO, and adjacent segment degeneration (ASD) were reviewed.

A total of 394 patients were evaluated. HO and high-grade HO occurred in 67.77% and 11.17% patients, respectively. Preoperative ossification was significantly associated with the occurrence of HO (P < .001, OR: 3.507, 95%CI: 2.211-5.562) and high-grade HO (P = .019, OR: 2.176, 95%CI: 1.137-4.166). The ROM of replacement levels and C2-7 were significantly lower in the high-grade HO group compared to those without high-grade HO: (3.80° vs 10.18°, P < .001) and (42.81° vs 54.00°, P < .001), respectively. The incidence of ASD was significantly higher in patients with high-grade HO than those without high-grade HO (22.73% vs 11.14%, P = .048).

Preoperative ossification was identified as a potential risk factor for HO and high-grade HO. Patients with high-grade HO had limited ROM of replacement levels and the cervical spine and had a high incidence of ASD compared to those without high-grade HO.