Prevalence of Hip Ossification and Related Clinical Factors in Cases With Spinal Cord Injury

Abstract

Background: Heterotopic ossification (HO) is a complication after spinal cord injury. There are limited studies evaluating hip ossification in Iranian patients with spinal cord injury. Objectives: We designed this study to evaluate prevalence of HO in cases with spinal cord injury and clinical factors related to this finding. Patients and Methods: In this study, 135 patients with traumatic spinal cord injury who were referred to a spinal cord injury clinic were enrolled. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Hip radiography was performed for all patients to evaluate hip ossifications. An expert radiologist assessed the obtained radiographs. Results: Thirty one (23%) participants were women and 104 (77%) were men. The most common cause of injury was accident (66.7%) followed by falling (28.1%). HO was present in 51 (37.8%) cases, and hip X-ray was normal in 84 (62.2%) Duration of injury and bed sore were significantly higher in patients with HO. Logistic regression analysis considering HO as a dependent variable showed that only bedsore was an independent predictor of HO. Conclusions: Evaluation for hip ossification should be considered in patients with spinal cord injury.