title: The use of spect/ct in the evaluation of heterotopic ossification in para/tetraplegics.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the stage of maturation and the metabolism of neurogenic heterotopic ossification by using SPECT/CT.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 12 medical records of patients with spinal cord injury, all of them classified according to the ASIA protocol (disability scale from the American Spinal Injury Association) in complete lesion (A) and partial lesions (B, C and D) and registered at the Laboratory of Biomechanics and Rehabilitation of the Locomotor System, were submitted to SPECT/CT evaluation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixteen hips with heterotopic ossification observed in X-ray were studied and only two (12.5%) had high osteoblastic activity. Five hips showed medium activity, three (18.75%) low activity and six (37.5%) did not present any activity detected by SPECT/CT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SPECT/CT helps to determinate which patients have a greater risk of relapse after surgical resection, proving to be a useful imaging study in preoperative evaluation that can be used to determinate the postoperative prognosis of these patients. Level of Evidence III, Investigating a Diagnostic Test.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maurício Coelho
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcus Ceregati
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Passarelli
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Virgílio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dario
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bruno Rodrigues
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Lebani
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paulo Henrique Silva
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Monteiro
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Celso Darío
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Ramos
keywords: Ossification, heterotopic; Paraplegia; Tetraplegia; Tomography, emission-computed, single-photon