Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva
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Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (or FOP) is a rare disorder that causes injured tissues in the body to transform permanently into bone. One early sign of the disorder is an abnormal turning of the big toe, which is visible at birth. But, children with the condition may not show symptoms for months or years. Children with the condition develop normal looking bones where they would normally scar or have their skin grow back. Bones can grow in such places as the neck, back, spine, shoulders, chest, elbows, wrists, hips, knees, ankle, and jaw. In order for a child to develop this condition, only 1 parent must have the gene for FOP. However, the condition is usually a new mutation when the baby is developing, and most parents of children with FOP do not have the condition themselves. If a person does have this condition, they have a 50% chance of passing it onto their offspring. There is no cure for FOP, and surgery is not an option for treatment, as it leads to more bone growth where the surgery wounds are.