Prolonged fever and heterotopic ossification in a C4 tetraplegic patient. Case report

Abstract

Prolonged fever is an uncommon diagnostic problem in a spinal cord injury patient. The underlying causes include recurrent infections, thromboembolic phenomena and central fever. We report a case of heterotopic ossification in a traumatic C4 tetraplegic patient presenting as prolonged fever of 3 months’ duration. Treatment with oral indomethacin led to prompt resolution of the fever and acute manifestations of heterotopic ossification. The efficacy of indomethacin in the treatment of heterotopic ossification in spinal cord injury needs to be further confirmed in larger studies. © 1995, International Spinal Cord Society. All rights reserved.