title: On the antiquity of Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease: Skeletal evidence in Iron Age Italy.
abstract: Legg-Calvé-Perthes is a very rare disease involving childhood osteochondrosis of the femoral head due to interruption of its blood supply. The etiology is unknown. The signs of the pathology are well described in the literature but few paleopathological cases have been reported, mostly dating from Late Antiquity to Early Middle Ages. Here we report on morphometric and radiological analyses of a skeleton from the Etruscan necropolis of Spina (Ferrara, Italy, 6th-3rd century BCE), to our knowledge the most ancient case of Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease published thus far.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Surgical Specialties Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: V S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Manzon
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ferrante
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giganti
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Surgical Specialties Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy. Electronic address: emanuela.gualdi@unife.it.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gualdi-Russo
mesh_terms: D005270:Femur Head / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D049690:History, Ancient; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D007873:Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000266:history* / Q000473:pathology; D010164:Paleopathology; D010384:Pelvic Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed