Pathological Heterotopic Ossifications In Brain Or Spinal Cord Injured Patients: From Ectopic Bone To Hematopoietic Stem Cell Niche Development

Heterotopic ossification (HO) is a pathology characterized by the formation of ectopic bone in soft tissues generally in muscles surrounding joints such hip, knee, elbow or shoulder. The etiology of this pathology is not known but it is well established that the risk of HO is increased after traumatic brain or spinal cord injuries and also after fractures or burns. Patients with HOs suffer from pain and the range of motion from limbs with ectopic bone is highly reduced. Currently, the only effective treatment for HOs is surgery but recurrences are frequent underpinning that a better understanding of its pathophysiology is required to cure patients.