UNUSUAL LOCALIZATION OF A HETEROTOPIC OSS IFICATION IN A LAPAROTOMY SCAR

We report on a patient with spin;ll cord injury and an unusual localiz ation of heterotopic ossification (HO) in the area of a laparotomy sca r, with a large quantity of foreign bodies from residual suture materi al. This makes it obvious that extraskeletal cells can. differentiate for osteogenesis. However, neither the mechanism of the induction proc ess of HO nor the stimulating agents are precisely known. It must be s tressed, however, that the occurrence of HO can be influenced by forei gn bodies in the presence of favourable microenvironmental conditions.