Heterotopic ossification in a throwing athlete after elbow arthroscopy

A case of heterotopic ossification occurring after elbow arthroscopy in a young. healthy, throwing athlete is reported. The heterotopic bone caused a loss of motion post-arthroscopy in the patient and was confirmed with plain radiographs and bone scan. Twenty-two months after elbow arthroscopy, the patient underwent an open excision of the heterotopic bone. He returned to competitive throwing the next season. While this complication is rare after such minimally invasive procedures, this entity should be considered in the differential diagnosis in the throwing athlete who is unable to recover full range of motion after elbow arthroscopy.