title: Osteobiography of a 19th century elderly woman with pertrochanteric fracture and osteoporosis: a multidisciplinary approach.
abstract: In this paper the osteobiography of an elderly woman recovered from a cemetery tomb where she was buried in 1850, affected by hip fracture and osteoporosis, is described. The overall anthropological characteristics of the individual have been investigated. Macroscopic, radiographic, tomographic, microscopic, and chemical and structural examinations have been performed to give a detailed account of the condition of the skeleton. A non-union pertrochanteric fracture not surgically treated and probably due to senile osteoporosis was diagnosed. The consequences of the fracture to the bones show that this individual likely survived several years following the injury. The osseous features we describe (remodelled bone at the fracture site, asymmetry of entheseal changes likely related to the particular walking pattern of the individual) may be useful in personal identification of skeletons of legal interest. Regarding the recognition of osteoporosis in unearthed skeletons, our study underlines that the cortical thickness, microscopic features, degree of crystallinity and Ca/P ratio represent more useful elements than the mean bone density, mineral/matrix ratio and mineral maturity, which are more sensitive to diagenetic changes that affect the mineral phase post-mortem.
authors.affiliation: Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Laboratory of Bioarchaeology and Forensic Osteology, Bologna, Italy. valentina.mariotti@unibo.it
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mariotti
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Milella
authors.forename: Ester
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Orsini
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Trirè
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ruggeri
authors.forename: Gino
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fornaciari
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Minozzi
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Caramella
authors.forename: Ugo
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Albisinni
authors.forename: Saverio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gnudi
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Durante
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Todero
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Boanini
authors.forename: Katia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rubini
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bigi
authors.forename: Maria Giovanna
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Belcastro
mesh_terms: D000077:Acetabulum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000885:Anthropology, Physical / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000266:history; D049672:History, 19th Century; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000266:history; D011859:Radiography