$Unique_ID{BRK04033} $Pretitle{} $Title{Myositis Ossificans} $Subject{Myositis Ossificans Myositis Ossificans Progressiva Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva Muenchmeyer Syndrome Patin's Syndrome Guy-Patin's Syndrome Fibrosis Ossificans Progressiva Stone Man Scoliosis Pseudohypoparathyroidism Martin-Albright Syndrome Seabright-Bantam Syndrome Calcinosis Universalis } $Volume{} $Log{} Copyright (C) 1987, 1990 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. 366: Myositis Ossificans ** IMPORTANT ** It is possible that the main title (Myositis Ossificans) may not be the name you expected. Please check the SYNONYMS listing to find the alternate names, disorder subdivisions, and related disorders covered by this article. Synonyms Myositis Ossificans Progressiva Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva Muenchmeyer Syndrome Patin's Syndrome Guy-Patin's Syndrome Fibrosis Ossificans Progressiva Stone Man Information on the following diseases can be found in the Related Disorders section of this report: Scoliosis Pseudohypoparathyroidism, also known as Martin-Albright Syndrome or Seabright-Bantam Syndrome Calcinosis Universalis General Discussion ** REMINDER ** The information contained in the Rare Disease Database is provided for educational purposes only. It should not be used for diagnostic or treatment purposes. If you wish to obtain more information about this disorder, please contact your personal physician and/or the agencies listed in the "Resources" section of this report. Myositis Ossificans is a rare progressive disorder marked by bone tissue-like formations (calcifications) which occur inside skeletal muscles. Stiffening or weakening of muscles may occur where calcifications are found. Other signs of this disorder may include shortened fingers or toes and curvature of the spine (scoliosis). Very rarely patients may experience deafness, baldness or mental retardation with this disorder. Symptoms Myositis Ossificans causes progressive weakening or stiffening of muscles where abnormal bone tissue-like formation (calcification) has occurred. Bands of tissue connecting muscles together, tissues connecting tendons to muscles, and tendons, may also become weak or stiff. Pain and tenderness during contraction of muscles is common. In some cases, swelling resembling bruises may appear on the skin at the site of calcifications. In later stages, progression of the disorder may be unpredictable. Curvature of the spine (scoliosis) can occur. In the most serious cases, the ability to walk may be limited. Deafness, baldness or mental retardation may occur as rare symptoms of this disorder. Causes Myositis Ossificans is suspected to be inherited as a dominant trait. A non-hereditary disorder with similar muscle involvement consists of calcifications resulting from muscle injuries. (Human traits including the classic genetic diseases, are the product of the interaction of two genes for that condition, one received from the father and one from the mother. In dominant disorders, a single copy of the disease gene (received from either the mother or father) will be expressed "dominating" the normal gene and resulting in appearance of the disease. The risk of transmitting the disorder from affected parent to offspring is 50% for each pregnancy regardless of the sex of the resulting child.) Affected Population Only approximately 350 cases of Myositis Ossificans have been described in medical literature in this century. This disorder usually appears before ten years of age. Myositis Ossificans seems to affect males and females in equal numbers. Related Disorders The following diseases are similar to Myositis Ossificans. Comparisons may be useful for a differential diagnosis. A variant of Myositis Ossificans involves calcifications developing as a result of muscle injury which may not be related to genetic factors. Pseudohypoparathyroidism (Martin-Albright Syndrome) is also known as Seabright-Bantam Syndrome. This disorder is inherited as an X-linked trait. Although normal amounts of the parathyroid hormone are present, inadequate response to the hormone affects bone growth in Pseudohypoparathyroidism patients. Headaches, weakness, tiring easily, lethargy and blurred vision or sensitivity to light can occur. Unusual sensations, stiffness or cramps in arms or legs, palpitations and abdominal pain may be noticed. A round face, thick short stature, shortened fingers or toes, and mental deficiencies are also found in patients with Martin-Albright Syndrome. The prognosis is good for most patients. Hormonal and calcium replacement therapy is often useful, but the lack of growth may persist. Calcinosis Universalis is a skin disorder with sore or tender skin due to excess calcium deposits. This progressive disorder can appear at any age. The skin lesions may be accompanied by calcium deposits around joints or in muscles. This may lead to muscle weakness and swelling. The kidneys, stomach or lungs may also have calcium deposits. The prognosis depends on the degree of involvement and treatment of associated infections. The following disorders may be associated with Myositis Ossificans as secondary characteristics. They are not necessary for a differential diagnosis. Scoliosis is a curvature of the spine often developing in pre- and early adolescence. A common disorder in the United States, it tends to affect more girls than boys. One form of Scoliosis is believed to be hereditary. Screening for Scoliosis is often a part of the normal physical examination provided annually to children. Early detection is helpful in stopping progression of the disorder. (For more information on Scoliosis, please contact the National Scoliosis Foundation. The address is listed in the Resources Section of this report). Therapies: Standard Symptoms of Myositis Ossificans can usually be treated without surgery. Use of steroid drugs and xylocaine (lidocaine) may reduce inflammation and muscle stiffness. Use of antibiotics to treat infections is often helpful. Surgery or biopsy of calcifications may sometimes worsen symptoms; surgery should be performed only in the most severe cases. Intramuscular injections, muscle injury, careless puncture of a vein or dental surgery may also make calcifications more severe. Other treatment is symptomatic and supportive. Agencies and programs which assist handicapped individuals may be helpful to patients and their families. Families with the hereditary form of Myositis Ossificans can benefit from genetic counseling. Therapies: Investigational Sonotomography, X-ray and scintigraphy are all imaging procedures being tested to accurately pinpoint and monitor the size of calcifications in muscles in Myositis Ossificans. Sonograms are graphic representations of deep structures of the body using echoes of pulses of high frequency sound waves directed at the tissues. Scintigraphs are photographic two-dimensional maps of gamma ray concentration in specific tissues of the body. Imaging procedures are used at regular intervals to determine whether calcifications continue to grow. This disease entry is based upon medical information available through January 1990. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder. Resources For more information on Myositis Ossificans, please contact: National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) P.O. Box 8923 New Fairfield, CT 06812-1783 (203) 746-6518 For information about Scoliosis contact: National Scoliosis Foundation, Inc. 72 Mount Auburn St. Watertown, MA 02172 (617) 926-0397 The National Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Information Clearinghouse Box AMS Bethesda, MD 20892 (301) 495-4484 Muscular Dystrophy Association, National Office 3300 E. Sunrise Dr. Tucson, AZ 85718 (602) 529-2000 International FOP Organization 910 North Jerico Casselberry, FL 32707 (407) 365-4194 For information on genetics, contact and genetic counseling referrals, please contact: March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation 1274 Mamaroneck Avenue White Plains, NY 10605 (914) 428-7100 Alliance of Genetic Support Groups 35 Wisconsin Circle, Suite 440 Chevy Chase, MD 20815 (800) 336-GENE (301) 652-5553 References FIBRODYSPLASIA OSSIFICANS PROGRESSIVA. THE CLINICAL FEATURES AND NATURAL HISTORY OF 34 PATIENTS: J.M. Connor, et. al.; J Bone Joint Surg [Br] (1982, issue 64(1)). Pp. 76-83. DIAGNOSTIC AND THERAPEUTIC ASPECTS OF MYOSITIS OSSIFICANS (AUTHOR' TRANSL): P. Jenny, et. al.; Z Kinderchir (March 1982, issue 35(3)). Pp. 86-87. TREATMENT OF TRAUMATIC MYOSITIS OSSIFICANS CIRCUMSCRIPTA; USE OF ASPIRATION AND STEROIDS: J.C. Molloy, et. al.; J Trauma (Nov. 1976, issue 16(11)). Pp. 851-857.