Neurological heterotopic ossification (NHO) is a debilitating condition where bone forms in soft tissue, such as muscle surrounding the hip and knee, following an injury to the brain or spinal cord. This abnormal formation of bone can result in nerve impingement, pain, contractures and impaired movement. Patients are often diagnosed with NHO after the bone tissue has completely mineralised, leaving invasive surgical resection the only remaining treatment option. Surgical resection of NHO creates potential for added complications, particularly in patients with concomitant injury to the central nervous system (CNS). Although recent work has begun to shed light on the physiological mechanisms involved in NHO, there remains a significant knowledge gap related to the prognostic biomarkers and prophylactic treatments which are necessary to prevent NHO and optimise patient outcomes. This article reviews the current understanding pertaining to NHO epidemiology, pathobiology, biomarkers and treatment options. In particular, we focus on how concomitant CNS injury may drive ectopic bone formation and discuss considerations for treating polytrauma patients with NHO. We conclude that understanding of the pathogenesis of NHO is rapidly advancing, and as such, there is the strong potential for future research to unearth methods capable of identifying patients likely to develop NHO, and targeted treatments to prevent its manifestation.

神经异位骨化症（NHO）是一种令人衰弱的疾病，其中，在大脑或脊髓受伤后，软组织（例如，臀部和膝盖周围的肌肉）中会形成骨骼。骨骼的这种异常形成会导致神经撞击，疼痛，挛缩和运动障碍。骨组织完全矿化后，通常会被诊断为NHO患者，而侵入性手术切除是唯一剩下的治疗选择。NHO的手术切除可能增加并发症的发生，特别是在中枢神经系统（CNS）伴随损伤的患者中。尽管最近的工作已经开始阐明NHO涉及的生理机制，仍然存在与预后生物标志物和预防性治疗有关的重大知识空白，这对于预防NHO和优化患者预后至关重要。本文回顾了有关NHO流行病学，病理生物学，生物标志物和治疗选择的当前理解。特别是，我们关注于中枢神经系统伴随损伤如何驱动异位骨形成，并讨论了用NHO治疗多发伤患者的考虑因素。我们得出的结论是，对NHO发病机理的了解正在迅速发展，因此，有可能在未来的研究中发掘出能够识别出可能发展为NHO的患者以及针对性治疗以预防NHO的方法。生物标志物和治疗选择。特别是，我们关注于中枢神经系统伴随损伤如何驱动异位骨形成，并讨论了用NHO治疗多发伤患者的考虑因素。我们得出的结论是，对NHO发病机理的了解正在迅速发展，因此，有可能在未来的研究中发掘出能够识别出可能发展为NHO的患者以及针对性治疗以预防NHO的方法。生物标志物和治疗选择。特别是，我们关注于中枢神经系统伴随损伤如何驱动异位骨形成，并讨论了用NHO治疗多发伤患者的考虑因素。我们得出的结论是，对NHO发病机理的了解正在迅速发展，因此，有可能在未来的研究中发掘出能够识别出可能发展为NHO的患者以及针对性治疗以预防NHO的方法。