Heterotopic ossification after interlocking intromedullary reamed nailing for fractures of the femoral shaft.

Postoperative heterotopic ossification (HO) around the hip is common follovving total hip arthroplasty and after surgical treatment of the acetabular fractures. Hovvever, its occuring after intramedullary nailing operations for femoral fractures is relatively uncommon and not well documented. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical importance and aspects of heterotopic ossification after intramedullary nailing. Between October 1995 and March 1999, 70 patients treated by intramedullary femoral locked and reamed femoral nailing were follovved and studied, prospectively. There were 63 male and 7 female and average age was 34 years (17 to 70). To determine of HO, the criteria described by Brumback et al. were used. Mean follow-up was 18 months (9 to 48 months). Ten patients were lost to follovvup, thus 60 patients remained were evaluated. Grade I HO developed in 4 patients (7%), grade II in 1 patient (1.5%) and grade III in 1 patient (1.5%). The patients who developed HO were treated by conservative methods with success. İn conclusion, the findings of this study support that heterotopic ossification after intramedullary femoral nailing is uncommon and not a great problem in management of this patients.