Myositis Ossificans (Heterotopic Bone Formation)
Myositis ossificans is a painful calcification or bone growth resulting from a severe or poorly treated contusion.
Symptoms of Myositis Ossificans
- Restricted range of movement.
- Pain in the muscle when you use it.
- A hard lump in the muscle.
- An X-ray can show bone growth.
What is Myositis Ossificans?
If you have a bad muscle strain or contusion (dead leg) and it is neglected then you could be unlucky enough to get Myositis Ossificans. It is usually as a result of impact which causes damage to the sheath that surrounds a bone (periostium) as well as to the muscle.
Bone will grow within the muscle (called calcification) which is painful. The bone will grow 2 to 4 weeks after the injury and be mature bone within 3 to 6 months.
Common causes include:
- Not applying cold therapy and compression immediately after the injury.
- Having intensive physiotherapy or massage too soon after the injury. Use someone who is properly qualified and insured.
- Returning too soon to training after exercise.
Treatment
See a sports injury specialist or doctor as soon as possible who will:
- Advise you to rest or immobilize the limb for 3 to 4 weeks.
- X-ray the muscle to see when it is safe to start rehabilitation.
- Operate in worst cases to remove the bone.
