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Heterotopic ossification of the elbow after closed reduction and retrograde intramedullary nailing for radial neck fracture treated by anconeus interposition

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Abstract

Heterotopic ossification around the elbow can lead to considerable functional disability. We describe a case of a 42-year-old man who developed heterotopic ossification of his elbow after closed reduction of the elbow dislocation and radial neck fracture and retrograde intramedullary nailing for radial neck fracture. During the follow-up after initial surgery, movements of the elbow were gradually deteriorated and diagnosed as heterotopic ossification of the elbow. Implant removal, radial head excision along with heterotopic mass, and also interposition of the anconeus muscle resulted in improvement of his elbow mobility. At 18 months of follow–up, patient had elbow flexion arc of 15°–110°, 70° of supination, and 50° of pronation without recurrence of heterotopic ossification. The uniqueness of this case lies in the treatment of heterotopic ossification of the elbow to prevent its recurrence, which was developed after retrograde intramedullary nailing for radial neck fracture following closed reduction.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedics, Jawaharlal Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Dhanvantrinagar, Puducherry, 605006, India

    T. Sreenivas, Jagdish Menon & A. R. Nataraj

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  1. T. Sreenivas
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  2. Jagdish Menon
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  3. A. R. Nataraj
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Correspondence to T. Sreenivas.

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Sreenivas, T., Menon, J. & Nataraj, A.R. Heterotopic ossification of the elbow after closed reduction and retrograde intramedullary nailing for radial neck fracture treated by anconeus interposition. Musculoskelet Surg 97, 267–271 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12306-011-0179-7

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