Heterotopic ossification (HO) is a pathologic formation of bone within soft tissues. The main risk factors for HO are orthopedic surgery, trauma, brain or spinal cord injury and severe burns.
Repetitive mechanical stress or microtrauma is generally thought to be present among the rest of the patients. The long history of working with a vibrating sander in our patient was, probably, the risk factor for HO.
More studies about HO in patients exposed to occupational vibration are needed.