title: Neurogenic heterotopic ossification: epidemiology and morphology on conventional radiographs in an early neurological rehabilitation population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To retrospectively evaluate neurogenic heterotopic ossification in an early neurological rehabilitation population (phases B and C) with respect to epidemiology and morphology on conventional radiographs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Over a 4-year period, 1,463 patients treated at a clinic for early neurological rehabilitation were evaluated for clinical symptoms of neurogenic heterotopic ossification. In case of clinical suspicion, plain radiographs of the expected sites were obtained. If heterotopic ossification was detected, the initial and subsequent radiographs were retrospectively analyzed for sites, size, and morphology. Immature lesions were categorized as small (<10 mm) or large (10-100 mm).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence rate of neurogenic heterotopic ossification was 2.05%. The condition was most common in young male adults. The hip was the most common site accounting for more than half of the cases. Two or more ossifications were seen in 56.7% of the affected patients with approximately two-thirds showing bilateral symmetric involvement of corresponding joint regions. The size of ossifications strongly varied interindividually. Small immature lesions demonstrated less progression in size than large lesions during maturation (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Standard radiographs, as a fast and inexpensive technique, allow the expected size progression of heterotopic ossifications during maturation to be estimated, which is relevant in terms of therapeutic decisions, patient mobilization, and neurological rehabilitation.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Diagnostische Radiologie und Neuroradiologie, Ernst Moritz Arndt Universität Greifswald, Ferdinand-Sauerbruch-Straße, 17487, Greifswald, Germany.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Seipel
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Langner
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Platz
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lippa
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Kuehn
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hosten
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015984:Causality; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D009999:Ossification, Heterotopic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D015995:Prevalence; D011859:Radiography; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome