Program of Continuous Passive Motion Exercises Against Heterotopic Ossification
The investigators hypothesize that Heterotopic Ossification (HO) formation can be suppressed if the application of a Continuous Passive Motion (CPM) device can be performed for a substantial amount of time. The investigators will use the following study design: a pilot study with 10 ICU patients receiving CPM and 10 matched cases which will follow a conventional physiotherapy program at the time of the conduction of the study. The comparison between the treatment and referent groups of the outcomes will prove the prophylactic power of CPM against HO.
• Patients with stabilized medical condition suffering from neurological insult either traumatic brain injury (TBI), stroke, or Spinal Cord Injury.
• A negative triplex ultrasound in order to rule out deep venous thrombosis (DVT)
• A positive three-phase bone scan with Tc99. (Will be obtained as soon as HO symptoms are onset.)
• Patients with verified HO formation on the knee or hip joint will undergo a CT to show the extent of the lesion.