Anterior Hip Heterotopic Ossification after Traumatic Anterior Hip Dislocation in a Non-head Injured Pediatric Patient: A Case Report

INTRODUCTION: Traumatic hip dislocation in pediatric patients is uncommon, with anterior dislocation being particularly rare. Heterotopic ossification (HO) is a rare complication, especially in the absence of concomitant head trauma. There are no reported cases of symptomatic anterior hip HO, after closed anterior dislocation, in the pediatric population. CASE REPORT: We present a case of symptomatic anterior hip HO in a 14-year-old female after traumatic anterior hip dislocation without associated head trauma. After closed reduction, anterior hip HO matured over the course of 1 year and resulted in a near complete ankylosis of the hip joint. Surgical excision and prophylactic radiation therapy resulted in a satisfactory clinical outcome. CONCLUSION: Pediatric anterior hip dislocation, even in the absence of head trauma, can cause symptomatic HO to the extent of near ankylosis of the hip joint. This can be managed with surgical excision and prophylactic radiation, with satisfactory clinical results.