In 1692 Patin (1) described the first case of progressive muscle ossification and in 1868 von Dusch (2) gave the disease its present name of myositis ossificans progressiva. A detailed survey of the literature was published by Rosenstirn (3) in 1918, and in 1932 Mair (4) reviewed the subject thoroughly and published two cases of his own. In Mair's report the suggestion was made that the name be changed to “fibrositis ossificans progressiva” because actually the disease involves the connective tissue rather than the muscles. Although this term is more descriptive of the pathological process, the original nomenclature has common usage and will be employed in this paper. Numerous case reports of myositis ossificans progressiva have appeared in the medical literature in the past half century, and yet it remains a medical enigma. Antecedent infection, especially rheumatic fever, has frequently been associated with this disease but there is no proof that the relationship is anything but coincidental. Trauma, al...