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Myositis ossificans
Site: Jarrow monastic site, Tyne and Wear.
Period: Late Saxon to post-medieval.
Excavator: Prof. R.J. Cramp, Durham University.
Published: forthcoming.
Skeleton: male in middle-age.
Catalogue entry: The right femur had a large exostosis arising from the anterior aspect of the shaft and extending downwards in the plane of the massive thigh muscles. The exostosis arises from the periosteum with no sign on examination by eye or X-ray of an underlying bony fracture.
This is probably an example of the condition known as myositis ossificans, in which a large blood clot is produced by tearing of blood vessels at the surface of the bone caused by a blow to the front of the thigh. The blood trickles between the muscles, clots and is then calcified and united to the bone. The residual hard lump will easily be felt in the thigh and was probably tender to touch but may well have interfered little with the function of the massive thigh muscles.