Joint diseases are traditionally categorized into conditions characterized by either bone production or bone loss. Osteoarthritis (OA)t or degenerative joint disease (DJD)t is the primary condition under the former category, affecting synovial joints through the degeneration of articular hyaline cartilage and subsequent pathological changes in cartilage and subchondral bone. This study explores a case of probable osteoarthritis of a right elbow, secondary to trauma, from an individual from the hypogeal cemetery of Santa Maria Maggiore in Vercelli, dated to the late 18th to early 19th century. The subject, identified as Ind#3, was a male aged 50-60years, whose remains were found in secondary deposition in an ossuary chest. Macroscopic and radiological evaluations revealed significant pathological alterations in the right elbow Joint, including extensive eburnation, osteophyte formation andJoint morphology changes. The study suggests that the observed DJD resultedfrom a significant trauma several years before death, leading to extensive bone remodeling due to continuedjoint use. This case contributes to the understanding of post-traumatic osteoarthritis in archaeological contexts, highlight the complexity of diagnosing OA in this context and the lack ofsuch cases and descriptions in literature.
FROM TRAUMA TO DEGENERATIVE JOINT DISEASE: A BIOARCHAEOLOGICAL EXAMINATION OF OSTEOARTHRITIS IN AN ELBOW JOINT OF A WEALTHY INDIVIDUAL FROM SANTA MARIA MAGGIORE SITE, VERCELLI, NORTHERN ITALY
Vanni A.;Rossetti N.;Fusco R.;Licata M.
2025-01-01
Abstract
Joint diseases are traditionally categorized into conditions characterized by either bone production or bone loss. Osteoarthritis (OA)t or degenerative joint disease (DJD)t is the primary condition under the former category, affecting synovial joints through the degeneration of articular hyaline cartilage and subsequent pathological changes in cartilage and subchondral bone. This study explores a case of probable osteoarthritis of a right elbow, secondary to trauma, from an individual from the hypogeal cemetery of Santa Maria Maggiore in Vercelli, dated to the late 18th to early 19th century. The subject, identified as Ind#3, was a male aged 50-60years, whose remains were found in secondary deposition in an ossuary chest. Macroscopic and radiological evaluations revealed significant pathological alterations in the right elbow Joint, including extensive eburnation, osteophyte formation andJoint morphology changes. The study suggests that the observed DJD resultedfrom a significant trauma several years before death, leading to extensive bone remodeling due to continuedjoint use. This case contributes to the understanding of post-traumatic osteoarthritis in archaeological contexts, highlight the complexity of diagnosing OA in this context and the lack ofsuch cases and descriptions in literature.
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