title: Leg Swelling Caused by Heterotopic Ossification Mimicking Deep Vein Thrombosis in a Paraplegic Patient.
abstract: Leg swelling in patients with paraplegia due to spinal cord injury (SCI) occurs for various reasons, including heterotopic ossification (HO), deep vein thrombosis (DVT), fracture, or cellulitis. The clinical presentations of these conditions may overlap in part or in whole and it may occasionally be difficult to distinguish. Of these conditions, DVT and subsequent pulmonary embolism remain significant causes of morbidity and mortality in patients with SCI. Therefore, a prompt diagnostic work-up, particularly for DVT, is essential in patients with SCI, who present with leg swelling. Here, we report a case of leg swelling in a paraplegic patient, resulting from HO mimicking DVT and discuss the differential diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital, Goyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Jin Hyuk
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Bang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital, Goyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Keun-Tae
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital, Goyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Ho Jun
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lee
keywords: Ossification, heterotopic; Paraplegia; Spinal cord injuries; Venous thrombosis