CLINICAL RELEVANCE OF HETEROTOPIC OSSIFICATION OF HIP AND PELVIC BONES MUSCLES AND LIGAMENTS

Abstract

Objectives: Heterotopic ossification is a formation of bone at unusual sites. The present study is aimed to observe the ossification of transverse acetabular ligament, obturator membrane and gluteus maximus muscle in hip bones and fibrous capsule of hip joints and ossification of sacrotuberous and sacrospinous ligaments, erector spinae aponeurosis in pelves, and bilateral ankylosis of sacroiliac joints.

Methods: The study was performed on 128 dried human hip bones and six pelves of unidentified sex and age, in the Department of Anatomy. An ossified muscles and ligaments of hip and pelvic bones were observed and their measurements were recorded using Vernier calipers.

Results: The present study showed the incidence of completely ossified transverse acetabular ligament in four hip bones, that is, 3.12% with completely ossified fibrous capsule of hip joint on the left side. The incidence of bony spurs along the margin of Obturator Foramen in four left hip bones is 6.25% along with the ossification of the gluteus maximus muscle on dorsal aspect of ilium. Out of six pelves, one pelvis presented complete ossification of erector spinae aponeurosis bilaterally on the dorsal surface of the sacrum along with complete ossification of sacrotuberous ligament of the right side and sacrospinous ligament of the left side along with bilateral ankylosed sacroiliac joint of pelvis.

Conclusions: The knowledge of these abnormal ossifications of hip bones and pelvis may be of immense help to orthopedicians, surgeons, neurosurgeons, and radiologists to come to differential diagnosis and plan treatment accordingly.