Heterotopic ossification (HO) is the formation of
marrow-containing bone outside of the normal skeleton. Acquired HO
following traumatic events is a common and costly clinical
complication. In contrast, hereditary HO is rarer, progressive,
and life-threatening. Substantial effort has been directed towards
understanding the mechanisms underlying HO and finding efficient
treatments. However, one crucial limiting factor has been the lack
of relevant animal models. This article reviews the major
currently available animal models, summarizes some of the insights
gained from these studies, and discusses the potential future
challenges and directions in HO research.