[Myositis ossificans following head injury (author's transl)]

This is a report on 14 patients with myositis ossificans with simultaneous head injury. Predilected sites are the hip and elbow joints as well as thigh musculature, where particularly in the youthful and younger adults ossifications occur 5--8 weeks after the accident. Premature operative treatment is useless because of the danger of recurrence. The process of ossification usually comes to a standstill 8--12 weeks following the trauma. The diagnosis is made on the basis of clinical examination (hardening of muscles, immobility of joints) and X-ray pictures. The pathogenesis and modes of therapy are discussed in detail. Furthermore, the incidence of this complication of head injury in various age groups is evaluated statistically.