Heterotopic Ossification after Knee Surgery, Arthroscopy is Not an Exception!!!!

Introduction: Reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a common procedure. Injury is the predisposing risk factor for developing heterotopic ossification(HO). We like to report a case of HO of the knee following arthroscopic ACL reconstruction.

Case Report: A29-year-old patient was admitted with complaints of painful instability of the left knee after a fall from bike. MRI study confirmed a complete ACL rupture along with tear of the body and posterior horns of the medial meniscus. ACL reconstruction was carried out using ipsilateral hamstring tendon graft by knee arthroscopy. Eight months after the procedure, the patient complained of pain in the lateral side of the knee joint evidencing a slight prominence of hard consistency. The radiological study confirmed it to be a case of HO. The patient was managed conservatively.

Conclusion: Bone is the only tissue that has an incredible property as such that it can differentiate and develop into its mature form outside its native locations. Numerous studies have suggested ways of preventing and treating this complication. One has to be aware that even these simple surgical procedures can lead on to HO.