Published online Jan 6, 2023. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v11.i1.193
Peer-review started: September 25, 2022
First decision: December 13, 2022
Revised: December 20, 2022
Accepted: December 23, 2022
Article in press: December 23, 2022
Published online: January 6, 2023
Heterotopic ossification (HO) refers to the formation of new bone in non-skeletal tissues such as muscles, tendons or other soft tissues. Severe muscle and soft tissue injury often lead to the formation of HO. However, anterior HO of the ankle is rarely reported.
We report a patient with massive HO in front of the ankle joint for 23 years. In 1998, the patient was injured by a falling object on the right lower extremity, which gradually formed a massive heterotopic bone change in the right calf and dorsum of the foot. The patient did not develop gradual ankle function limitations until nearly 36 mo ago, and underwent resection of HO. Even after 23 years and resection of HO, the ankle joint was still able to move.
It is recommended that the orthopedist should be aware of HO and distinguish it from bone tumor.
Core Tip: Here we report an adult patient with 23 years of heterotopic ossification at the ankle. After the ankle was injured by a falling object (red brick), a huge bony mass gradually appeared from the ankle to the middle of the calf. The ankle joint remained 30 degree move range after surgery and the range maintained 30 degree in his 1 year follow up, and the radiology showed that there is no recurrence of heterotopic ossification.