Hi Bobby

Yes that usually resolves - at least to a major extent - over time as the remodelling process continues to kick in

No your patient doesn't have Heterotopic ossification - HO is basically abnormal laying down of bone tissue in the surrounding soft tissues, usually following trauma. The trauma can be orthopaedic or soft tissue (in either case the subtype is called Traumatic myositis ossificans) and there is also a high incidence of HO after trauma CNS such as TBI or SCI. When it is orthopaedic in nature it is limited to tissues close to the traumatised joint. It can be quite concerning when it happens and needs to be watched. I don't have the figures on it but the elbow is prone to this type of HO - clinically you might see it forming in the bellies of the elbow flexors or triceps for instance. Diagnosis is by plain Xray. There is a contention that over vigorous passive movements may trigger it off or make it worse but I don't know if there is any evidence for this or if it is just clinical lore. If there is too much build up of bony tissue then it restricts ROM and can incapacitate a joint.

Have a read of this e article: Posttraumatic Heterotopic Ossification: eMedicine Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation if you want to know more.

Cheers