Ossification

Ossification, also called osteogenesis, is the process of bone formation.  Heterotopic ossification describes the hardening of a soft tissue, including a muscle or ligament, into a substance that resembles bone. This can have many causes, including traumatic injury, osteoarthritis, or as a symptom of Failed Back Surgery Syndrome (FBSS) following spine fusion.

Heterotopic Ossification

Bone formation in areas of the body besides the skeleton can cause patients to experience a number of uncomfortable symptoms, including pain, stiffness, and immobility of the affected area. When it occurs in the spine, this condition can be difficult to diagnose – especially during early development because the hardened area lacks calcium, which makes it undetectable on an X-ray and in laboratory tests. A bone scan is the most effective way to diagnose this spinal condition.

Treatments for Ossification  

A number of conservative treatments can be beneficial to patients with this spinal condition, including:

• Radiation therapy
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• Hot/cold therapy
• Physical therapy
• And others

While these treatments do not cure heterotopic ossification, they can help to ease a patient’s discomfort. Some patients may require open back or neck surgery if several weeks or months of conservative treatments prove ineffective.

Before committing to the lengthy recovery of open back or neck surgery, patients should consider all of their treatment options. The orthopedic experts at Laser Spine Institute have developed safe and effective alternatives to open spine surgery. Our procedures are performed on an outpatient basis and 75 percent of patients return to daily activities within two weeks. Contact Laser Spine Institute to learn more about our endoscopic procedures and to schedule a complimentary consultation. Finally, free yourself from back and neck pain.