Presenter: Rose Godfrey, College of Medicine, Orthopaedics
Authors: Rose Godfrey, Ray Olsen, Aaron Olsen, Richard T Epperson, Brooke Kawaguchi, David Rothberg, John Maxwell, Paul Pasquina, Brad Isaacson, Dustin Williams
Faculty Advisor: Dustin Williams, College of Medicinie, Orthopaedics
Institution: University of Utah
Heterotopic ossification (HO) is ectopic growth of bone in surrounding tissue; this phenomenon most commonly occurs on a residual limb after a blast related traumatic injury that leads to amputation. HO growth is extremely painful and debilitating for those suffering from it, especially when using a prosthetic that puts constant pressure on the abnormal growth. We have identified three common occurrences in patients with HO and hypothesize that these factors contribute to the ectopic growth: a blast injury that damages soft tissue and releases small bone fragments, infection of the site, and tourniquet/wound vac use on the patient immediately after injury. The goal of this study is to reproduce HO formation in a large animal model; we performed three successful amputation surgeries in sheep that sustained simulated IED trauma in combination with the aforementioned factors. Radiographs showed that HO growth is present in all three sheep and matches the clinical condition. Histological data is currently being collected and work in two additional sheep will be performed. This is the first large animal model to demonstrate HO formation.Developing a model that is repeatable and reliable allows in-depth research into the source of the signal for HO growth and to develop a better means of care for patients with this condition.