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Possible case of spondylo‐epiphyseal dysplasia in a medieval skeleton
Author(s) -
Wakely Jennifer
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
clinical anatomy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.667
H-Index - 71
eISSN - 1098-2353
pISSN - 0897-3806
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1098-2353(2000)13:1<11::aid-ca3>3.0.co;2-k
Subject(s) - medicine , anatomy , scapula , skull , rib cage , humerus , skeleton (computer programming) , sternum , ulna
Multiple anomalies of vertebral and long bone growth were observed in the incomplete skeleton of an adult male from a collection of 693 medieval skeletons excavated at Abingdon, Oxfordshire. The skeleton consists of a fragmented skull, right scapula and humerus, left humerus, radius, ulna and partial hand, vertebrae from C1 to T11, and fragments of the ribs and sternum. The bones were examined, measured, and radiographed. The humeri are abnormally short and thick, with exaggerated muscle attachments. Both shoulder joints show extensive osteoarthritic destruction. Some vertebrae show slight flattening of the bodies, and there is possible evidence of both kyphosis and scoliosis. Skull, forearm, and hand bones are of normal size and morphology. Lack of lower limb bones and abnormal proportions in the upper limbs prevent meaningful estimation of stature. However, the other features of the skeleton are consistent with a diagnosis of spondylo‐epiphyseal dysplasia. No other skeletons displaying similar anomalies were observed. Clin. Anat. 13:11–16, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.