Frequency of spina bifida occulta and other occult spinal dysraphisms in the medieval population of Iasi city: skeleton paleopathology in the necropolis discovered in the eastern part of the Princely Court ("Curtea Domneasca"), 17th century (original) (raw)

Spina bifida occulta is the most common congenital malformation localized at the level of the spinal column from the atlas to the sacrum. The most frequent cases of spina bifida appear in the lumbar-sacral region, especially at the level of the sacrum bone. The maternal nutritional status, the exposure to teratogenic factors and the genetic predisposition may act together leading to the appearance of spinal dysraphisms. The osteological material exhumed in 2008 by the Center of European History and Civilization of Iași, from the necropolis localized in the Eastern part of the ex-Princely Court ("Curtea domnească") of 17 th century), sums up to 111 skeletons from 60 inhumation graves. The occult spinal sacral dysraphism in case of the medieval population of Iași appears in 6 cases (5 men with ages between 18 and 60 and one woman with the age between 18-20 years). The percentage of the occult spinal dysraphism is of 6.59% in case of the total number of individuals where we deal with the presence of the sacrum bone, of 7.57% for the male group and of 4% if we refer to the female group.