What is Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva?
Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva is also known as Myositis Ossificans Progressiva. It is a rare genetic disorder. Muscles, tendons, ligaments and other connective tissue gradually turn into bone. As bone forms across joints it progressively restricts movement. Eventually the patient has an extra skeleton that immobilizes all the joints. Symptoms A newborn infant will appear normal, except for those with congenital malformations of the big toe. During their first ten or twenty years of life, patients develop painful fibrous nodules over the neck, back and shoulders. These nodules gradually turn into bone. The process of turning into bone is called heterotopic ossification. The trunk and limbs are then affected. The body’s muscles begin to be replaced with normal appearing bone. If surgeons try to remove the bone, it is replaced by even more than there was before. The upper regions of the body tend to be affected before the lower regions. New bone formation rates vary according to t
