Elbow anchylosis due to postburn heterotopic ossification

In a retrospective study performed on 2280 patients that had had major thermal injuries, six patients experienced elbow anchylosis due to heterotopic ossification (two of them bilaterally). In every patient the ossification was localized at the posterior-medial aspect of the elbow. The treatment of this complication consisted of resection of the bone mass and transposition of the ulnar nerve. Mobilization was begun early, and rehabilitation was kept up for at least 4 months. The results obtained have been evaluated following the criteria of Merle d'Aubigné and Cañadell, who consider a very good result a gain of more than 60% in the arch of flexion-extension of the elbow; good, between 40% and 60%; fair between 20% and 40%; and poor, a gain of less than 20%. In five of the patients (six elbows), the result was very good with an average gain of 73.6% (minimum, 61.5%, maximum, 84.6%). In one patient the result was poor with gain of less than 20%. The incidence of this complication, its treatment, and the results obtained are analyzed.