Arthritis and rheumatism
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Sep 1997
Case ReportsHeterotopic ossification in the setting of neuromuscular blockade.
Heterotopic ossification (HO) is a disorder characterized by the formation of new bone in tissue that does not ossify under normal conditions. We report a series of 6 cases in which HO occurred in the setting of adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). We wished to show that HO can occur after neuromuscular blockade and that these cases might provide additional evidence that HO is influenced by neural mechanisms. ⋯ Neuromuscular blockade in the setting of ARDS appears to be an important risk factor for the development of HO. The similarity of these cases of HO occurring in patients with brain or spinal cord injury raises the possibility that neural mechanisms may be important in the pathogenesis of this disease. Whether the type of neuromuscular blocking agent and the duration of use are important determinants of disease severity remains to be determined.