Neurogenic heterotopic ossification (NHO) is a disorder of aberrant bone formation affecting one in five patients sustaining a spinal cord injury or traumatic brain injury. Ectopic bone forms around joints in characteristic patterns, causing pain and limiting movement especially around the hip and elbow. Clinical sequelae of neurogenic heterotopic ossification include urinary tract infection, pressure injuries, pneumonia and poor hygiene, making early diagnosis and treatment clinically compelling. However, diagnosis remains difficult with more investigation needed. Our pathophysiological understanding stems from mechanisms of basic bone formation enhanced by evidence of systemic influences from circulating humor factors and perhaps neurological ones. This increasing understanding guides our implementation of current prophylaxis and treatment including the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, bisphosphonates, radiation therapy and surgery and, importantly, should direct future, more effective ones.

We reviewed our experience with a modified triple innominate osteotomy for hip instability and limb shortening due to poliomyelitis in 62 adolescent and adult patients, treated from 1973 to 1990. Their ages at surgery ranged from 12 years to 35 years (average 22.3). At a mean follow-up of 4 years (2 to 18) 59 of the patients (95.2%) had substantial improvement in hip stability, and all but one had radiological improvement as determined by the acetabular angle, centre-edge angle and acetabulum-head quotient. In 59 cases in which transiliac limb lengthening was attempted, the mean gain was 1.7 cm (0.6 to 3.0). When the abductor muscles had been partially paralysed, the operation produced an appreciable increase in power in 12 of the 39 hips examined.

We report 60 patients with tuberculosis of the hip treated by Charnley low friction arthroplasty and followed for eight to 13 years. Eight of them had active tuberculosis of the hip at the time of operation, and all were covered by relatively short courses of antituberculous drugs. Our study suggests that arthroplasty can be recommended for these patients provided that adequate chemotherapy is given both before and after operation.