Humerus varus deformity in Roman period burials from Kellis 2, Dakhleh, Egypt.
Humerus varus deformity (HVD) occurs unilaterally in a female (#85) skeleton and bilaterally in a male (#124) from Kellis 2, a Roman period cemetery (circa 300-450 AD) from Dakhleh, Egypt. The affected humeri were shortened, their glenohumeral joints deformed, and their upper diaphyses were angulated. The skeletons were otherwise normal. The severity of the changes suggests that the underlying growth disturbances occurred early in postnatal development. The differential diagnosis considers the mucopolysaccharidoses, thalassemia, infection, and birth trauma, with the latter being favored. Clinical data show limited morbidity or functional impairment in individuals with HVD, although radiographic analysis suggests that #85 may have favored her dominant arm. Ortner and Putschar (1981), and Hershkovitz et al (1991) describe the only other archaeological cases of HVD. These authors provide useful, though limited, information on the differential diagnosis of HVD in archaeological specimens. Future research should focus on documenting the prevalence and expressivity of HVD in Mediterranean population samples where thalassemia evolved. HVD is relatively common in thalassemics and this approach would be valuable for documenting the range of osseous responses characteristic of HVD.
Molto
J E
JE
Department of Anthropology, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Ontario P7B 5E1, Canada. jemolto@flash.lakeheadu.ca
D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000473:pathology; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004534:Egypt; D005260:Female; D005580:Fossils; D015186:Hominidae / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D006811:Humerus / Q000002:abnormalities*; D008297:Male; D010164:Paleopathology / Q000379:methods*