Objective
To investigate the incidence, time of onset, and risk factors of deep vein thrombosis asssociated with heterotopic ossification in patients with spinal cord injury.
Method: The medical records of 201 patients with spinal cord injury were reviewed. Duplex ultrasound and/or venography were used for the diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis and 3 phase bone scan and/or plain radiologic studies were used for the diagnosis of heterotopic ossification.
Results: Whereas the incidence of heterotopic ossification and deep vein thrombosis in this population were 10.0% and 4.5%, respectively, 55.5% of the individuals with deep vein thrombosis developed heterotopic ossification. The overall incidence of coexistence of deep vein thrombosis and heterotopic ossification was 2.5%. The significant difference between the occurrence of heterotopic ossification and deep vein thrombosis in this SCI population reached statistical significance (Fisher's exact test p＜0.005).
Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that there exists an association between the occurrence of deep vein thrombosis and heterotopic ossification following SCI. (J Korean Acad Rehab Med 2003; 27: 349-354)
