Nine cases of heterotopic ossification at the elbow in seven patients
who had a cerebral injury and prolonged coma were treated by excision of
the extra-articular bone bridge from the humerus to the ulna. The bridge
was either anterior or posterior, and did not involve the radius. The
articular cartilage in all elbows showed no significant evidence of
degeneration in spite of the prolonged immobility of the joints during the
period of coma. Two of the patients also had resection of heterotopic bone
about the hip joint which resulted in rapid reformation of bone. In all
patients there was restoration of satisfactory function in the elbow
operated on without reformation of bone. Follow-up was from ten months to
8.7 years.