Early detection of burn induced heterotopic ossification using transcutaneous Raman spectroscopy

► Achilles tenotomy with burn injury model to study heterotopic ossification in mice. ► Raman spectroscopy in-vivo and ex-vivo to detect ectopic bone at early time points. ► Concurrent burn injury increases trauma-induced HO. ► Raman spectroscopy shows HO as early as 5 days post-injury vs. 3 weeks with Micro CT. ► Presence of HO confirmed with serial Raman spectroscopy, Micro CT, and histology.