Functional outcome of excision of heterotopic ossification after total hiparthroplasty

Fifty-three cases of symptomatic heterotopic ossification were evaluated af ter total hip arthroplasty for the specific purpose of determining the valu e of surgical excision without revision or other concurrent procedures. The mean followup was 3.5 years for range of motion and 7.8 years for radiogra phic evaluation. A statistically significant increase in range of motion wa s obtained for the group at final followup, The mean increase in flexion ar e was 34 degrees, abduction and adduction are was 22 degrees, and rotation are was 21 degrees. Of the patients who underwent surgical excision of hete rotopic bone solely because of pain, none had complete alleviation of sympt oms. It is concluded that surgical excision of heterotopic bone results in significant improvement in functional outcome, but it cannot be expected to predictably alleviate pain. Finally, the ultimate are of motion was better than that suggested radiographically by the Brooker classification system.