title: Heterotopic ossification in victims of the London 7/7 bombings.
abstract: Heterotopic ossification (HO) is the formation of bone at extraskeletal sites. Over 60% of amputees injured by improvised explosive devices in the recent conflict in Afghanistan have developed HO, resulting in functional impairment. It is hypothesised that a key aetiological factor is the blast wave; however, other environmental and medical risk factors, which the casualties have been exposed to, have also been postulated. The suicide terrorist bombings in London in 2005 resulted in many blast-related casualties, many of whom were managed by the Royal London Hospital. This cohort of severely injured patients whose injuries also included trauma-related amputations shared some, but not all, of the risk factors identified in the military population. We reviewed these patients, in particular to assess the presence or absence of military-established risk factors for the formation of HO in these casualties.
authors: Centre for Blast Injury Studies, Imperial College, South Kensington, London, UK Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, Surrey, UK.
authors: D S
authors: DS
authors: Edwards
authors: Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, Surrey, UK Ministry of Defence Hospital Unit, Frimley Park Hospital, Surrey, UK.
authors: J C
authors: JC
authors: Clasper
authors: St Bartholomew's and The Royal London Hospitals, London, UK.
authors: H D L
authors: HD
authors: Patel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000673:Amputation, Traumatic / Q000150:complications*; D001753:Blast Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D054042:Bombs; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005107:Explosions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008131:London; D008297:Male; D054527:Mass Casualty Incidents; D008875:Middle Aged; D009999:Ossification, Heterotopic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*
keywords: Amputation; Blast injury