OBJECTIVETo study the pathogenesis and treatment of gluteal heterotopic ossification caused by injection.

METHODSFrom April 2006 to May 2011, 4 old female patients with gluteal heterotopic ossification caused by injection were treated by resection. The average age was 71 years old ranging from 67 to 76. The illness were bilateral,the clinical character was pain and hard nodules in the both hip. The X-ray, CT and pathology matched the diagnosis of heterotopic ossification. Two of them were treated by totally removing the ossified tissues, and loosing the spastic and adhesive soft tissues. The other two were treated with local resection and soft-tissue lysis.

RESULTSThe wound of all patients healed well, and there were no complication. All patients were followed-up from 2 to 64 months(averaged 26 months). There were no lump and pain in the location of surgical resection.

CONCLUSIONGluteal heterotopic ossification caused by injection is the drug reaction produced by injecting benzyl alcohol or other drugs,and happens in adults. The key for the treatment is to remove part or all of the painful lump,and loose the local fascia and other soft tissues of the gluteal muscles.