Myositis Ossificans Traumatica of the Medial Pterygoid Muscle After Third Molar Tooth Extraction: A Case Report and Review of Literature

Abstract

Myositis ossificans (MO) is a rare non-neoplastic disorder characterized by heterotopic ossification in soft tissues, mainly muscles. MO traumatica is characterized by ossification of the soft tissues after acute or repetitive trauma, burns, or surgical intervention. Muscular or soft tissue trauma is usually present as the underlying etiology. MO traumatica usually involves the extremity muscles. The number of reported cases involving the masticatory muscles is extremely low. The most common clinical sign of this condition is progressive limitation of mouth opening. Surgical resection of the ossified tissue has been the most commonly used treatment for this disorder, with a high postoperative recurrence rate. We report a case of traumatic MO of the medial pterygoid muscle to draw attention to the possibility of the condition in patients with a limited mouth opening and to review the reported data about MO traumatica involving the medial pterygoid muscle. (C) 2018 American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons