# Myositis Ossificans of the Temporalis Muscle Following Neurosurgical Intervention: A Report of a Rare Case and Literature Review

## TL;DR

A rare case of myositis ossificans in the temporalis muscle following brain surgery is reported, showing successful surgical treatment and full recovery.

## Contribution

This report adds a rare clinical case of post-craniotomy myositis ossificans with successful surgical management and functional recovery.

## Key findings

- A patient developed myositis ossificans in the temporalis muscle after meningioma surgery.
- Surgical intervention restored mouth opening and led to full functional recovery.
- Histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of mature lamellar bone formation.

## Abstract

Myositis ossificans (MO) is a rare benign condition characterized by heterotopic bone formation within soft tissues, with masticatory muscle involvement being exceptionally uncommon. This case report describes a 45-year-old male patient who developed progressive trismus and a preauricular mass six months after right frontotemporal craniotomy for meningioma resection. Imaging revealed an ossified lesion in the temporalis muscle, consistent with post-traumatic MO. Surgical management involved zygomatic arch osteotomy and coronoidectomy, restoring intraoperative mouth opening to 23 mm. Histopathology confirmed mature lamellar bone, supporting the diagnosis. At six-month follow-up, the patient achieved full functional recovery with no recurrence. This case highlights the importance of considering MO in post-craniotomy trismus and the role of timely surgical intervention in established lesions.