Frequency of Costovertebral and Costotransverse Osteoarthritis in the Schroeder Mounds Site (original) (raw)
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Frequency and patterns of costovertebral osteoarthritis in two Medieval English populations
Osteoarthritis is one of the most frequently identified lesions in palaeopathological research. It has been extensively studied by both bioarchaeologists and medical researchers for decades, yet the aetiology of osteoarthritis remains unclear. One of the most important aspects of osteoarthritic studies is identifying the distribution patterns of the condition throughout the skeleton. Despite many studies reporting the occurrence of postcranial osteoarthritis, including in the spine, the costovertebral articulations have received little focus. The current study describes the occurrence of costovertebral osteoarthritis in two Medieval English populations from Chichester and Hereford. The presence of eburnation on the joint surfaces was used to indicate osteoarthritis. It was found that osteoarthritis of these joints had a similar frequency in both populations. An interesting pattern also emerged, with the joints of the costo-transverse articulations showing more eburnation than the costovertebral articulations with the vertebral body, except in the first rib. The pattern of distribution identified throughout the spine may provide insight into possible aetiological factors leading to the development of costovertebral osteoarthritis.
International Journal of Paleopathology, 2020
Objectives: To highlight conditions that may cause early-onset degenerative joint disease, and to assess the possible impact of such diseases upon everyday life. Material: Four adults aged under 50 years from a medieval skeletal collection of Prague (Czechia). Methods: Visual, osteometric, X-ray, and histological examinations, stable isotope analysis of bone collagen. Results: All four individuals showed multiple symmetrical degenerative changes, affecting the majority of joints of the postcranial skeleton. Associated dysplastic deformities were observed in all individuals, including bilateral hip dysplasia (n=1), flattening of the femoral condyles (n=3), and substantial deformation of the elbows (n=3). The diet of the affected individuals differed from the contemporary population sample. Conclusions: We propose the diagnosis of a mild form of skeletal dysplasia in these four individuals, with multiple epiphyseal dysplasia or type-II collagenopathy linked to premature osteoarthritis as the most probable causes. Significance: Combining the skeletal findings with information from the medical literature, this paper defines several characteristic traits which may assist with the diagnosis of skeletal dysplasia in the archaeological record. Limitations: As no genetic analysis was performed to confirm the possible kinship of the individuals, it is not possible to definitively assess whether the individuals suffered from the same hereditary condition or from different forms of skeletal dysplasia. Suggestions for Further Research: Further studies on premature osteoarthritis in archaeological skeletal series are needed to correct the underrepresentation of these mild forms of dysplasia in past populations.
Degenerative Joint Disease of the Long Bones in Dickson Mounds
1979
o steoarthritis is among the oldest and most commonly known diseases af f l ic t ing humans. Flowever, the paleopathological diagnosis is complicated, for neither the causes nor an exact definition of various osseous manifestations of arthritic responses are clearly known for archaeological skeletal specimens. The problem of measuringsuch an elusive but commonly encountered pathology is compounded by many factors but remains inviting to anthropological researchers nonetheless.
Osteoarthritis is a major health concern in living populations, as well as being one of the most common pathological lesions identified in the archaeological record. The aetiology of the disease remains unclear, with a multi-factorial influence of physical strain, age, genetics, and obesity. Previous studies have identified a relationship between the presence of knee osteoarthritis on the distal femoral joint and the morphology of the intercondylar notch, patellar groove, and medial condyle. The current study expands this research to investigate the relationship between distal femoral, distal humeral, and proximal ulnar joint morphology and osteoarthritis with 3D shape analysis techniques. These methods provide a more detailed analysis of joint morphology in order to determine any relationship between 3D shape and osteoarthritis. The results indicate a complex relationship between joint shape and knee osteoarthritis, with eburnated right femora showing a statistically significant association. The shapes associated with eburnated or affected femoral joints can be explained by osteophyte development, and therefore likely represent systematic shape changes and not a particular joint shape predisposing individuals to the condition. There was no identifiable relationship found in the proximal ulna or distal humerus, indicating that joint shape is unlikely to influence the development of the condition in the elbow joint and that any shape changes produced by osteoarthritis are not systematic or quantifiable. The joints analysed in this study were highly influenced by asymmetry, sexual dimorphism, and allometry, resulting in a small sample size of affected joints in many datasets. Further analyses of large skeletal samples are needed to more thoroughly investigate the possible relationship of distal femoral joint shape and osteoarthritis.
Degenerative spondylolisthesis in ancient and historic skeletons from New Mexico Pueblo sites
American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 2001
The objective of this study was to identify the presence of degenerative spondylolisthesis in adult Native American skeletons recovered from prehistoric and historic Pueblo sites in New Mexico. The vertebral columns of 491 individuals that were complete enough to allow the necessary observations produced 64 cases, with a total of 74 affected levels. The L5-S1 level was affected most frequently (78%), in contrast to clinical and anatomical studies where the L4-L5 level was usually affected (80%). Age and sex were found to be important factors, with the condition limited to middle and old adults, and occurring in females over males at a ratio of approximately 5:1. Olisthesis was shown to occur only in association with severe osteoarthritis of the zygapophysial joints, but severe osteoarthritis did not always result in olisthesis, particularly in males. Parallel or convergent inferior articular processes were found to increase in frequency in the presence of olisthesis, apparently resulting from degenerative remodeling that produced the olisthesis. The data also suggest that individuals with cranial border shifting in the column may be especially prone to olisthesis. Degenerative olisthesis was also observed in the cervical region.
2019
In presenting this thesis in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a Postgraduate degree from the University of Saskatchewan, I agree that the Libraries of this University may make it freely available for inspection. I further agree that permission for copying of this thesis in any manner, in whole or in part, for scholarly purposes may be granted by the professor or professors who supervised my thesis work or, in their absence, by the Head of the Department or the Dean of the College in which my thesis work was done. It is understood that any copying or publication or use of this thesis or parts thereof for financial gain shall not be allowed without my written permission. It is also understood that due recognition shall be given to me and to the University of Saskatchewan in any scholarly use which may be made of any material in my thesis/dissertation.
Palaeopathological diagnosis of spondyloarthropathies: insights from the biomedical literature
International Journal of Palepathology, 2014
In palaeopathology, the diagnosis of spondyloarthropathies traditionally relies on the association of threetypes of skeletal lesions: erosive and proliferative modifications of the sacroiliac joint, formation of ver-tebral syndesmophytes and erosive and proliferative changes in peripheral joints. These conditions cantherefore be recognised only in well-preserved skeletons that exhibit the most typical pattern of lesions.In order to develop additional criteria for the diagnosis of spondyloarthropathies, a literature surveywas conducted as a preliminary step by comparing biomedical data with the palaeopathological liter-ature. We point out musculoskeletal changes and localisations rarely, if ever, used for identification ofspondyloarthropathies in skeletal material. Whereas a specific focus has been put on entheseal changesencountered in spondyloarthropathies, the results highlight skeletal changes that may contribute to thediagnosis of the spondyloarthropathies from osseous remains such as erosive lesions of the temporo-mandibular joint and erosive changes of entheses in the pectoral girdle. Recording of these lesions infuture studies of archaeological samples would contribute to discussions of their diagnostic relevance.
Vertebral Pathology In Prehistoric And Historic Skeletons From Northeastern Nebraska
Plains Anthropologist, 1992
Vertebral pathology has long been a useful criterion for anthropologists in the assessment of activity patterns, stress, and general health of extinct peoples. This method of analysis, however, has never been applied to the peoples of the Nebraska Great Plains. This study is the first to concentrate on the in digenous Native Americans of this region, examining the spinal pathology present in the prehistoric and historic skeletal remains. Pathology present in the form of spondylolysis, Schmorl's nodes, oS/eophytosis (degenerative disc disease), and osteoarthritis (degenerative joint disease), provides evidence to suggest diff ering activity patterns and levels of stress in Plains groups before and after European contact. Higher levels of acute stress and trauma in the historic individuals are documented. Gender-specific vertebral pathology, expressed through diff erential patterns of degenerative disease between the historic females and males, is also noted.