Residual rickets or osteomalacia: a case dating from the 16–18^th centuries from Krosno Odrzańskie, Poland

Abstract

A skeleton from a 16-18 th century burial site in Krosno Odrzań skie, Poland, was examined using classical morphological, metric and macroscopic palaeopathological observations, as well as radiography and tomography of the skull and long bones. A wide variety of the observed bone deformations probably occurred as a consequence of past rickets and/or osteomalacia, whose primary cause may also have been chronic renal failure. Preservation of the bones enables a discussion of the cause of such pathological changes. The subject under study appears to be a very interesting example of an individual whose skeleton shows advanced pathological alterations associated with the subject's vitamin D deficiency, overall health conditions and relatively long lifespan.

Diploic vessels and computed tomography: Segmentation and comparison in modern humans and fossil hominids

“…In fact, beyond statistical issue, the morphology of the diploe is also sensitive to physiological variations that can mask or bias evolutionary interpretations. The structure of the diploe can be altered by anaemia, nutritional defects, or infections (Williams et al, ; Tjon‐A‐Tham et al, ; Haduch et al, ). Age related hormonal changes, physical activity or variation of the brain pressure can also induce changes in the thickness of the bone layers (Lieberman, ; Hershkovitz et al, ; Hatipoglu et al, ; Royle et al, ; Urban et al, ).…”

Medical diagnostic methods applied to a medieval female with vitamin D deficiency from the north of Spain

“…Previous studies have described vitamin D deficiency in ancient populations (Brickley et al 2005;Brickley and Buckberry 2015;González et al 1999;Haduch et al 2009;Malgosa et al 1996;Ortner and Mays 1998;Schamall et al 2003, among others). Although its incidence increased with industrialization in urban areas, it was likely prevalent a long time before (González et al 1999;Littleton 1998).…”

“…Several cases of rickets and osteomalacia have been described in ancient populations (Brickley et al 2005;Brickley et al 2007;Brickley and Buckberry 2015;Haduch et al 2009;Ortner and Mays 1998;Schamall et al 2003;van der Merwe et al 2018, among others). In their review of indicators of vitamin D deficiency in adults, Brickley et al (2005) point out that the appearance of long bones deformities in an adult skeleton may be a sign reminiscent of a past phase of rickets.…”

“…Presumably, Spanish adults would also have had vitamin D deficiency, though no confirmed case can be found in the literature. The study from Haduch et al (2009) is particularly interesting as it shows a case of osteomalacia or residual rickets, and the moment in life in which the deficiency occurred could not be assessed. The methods shown in the present article can help establishing not only the pathological condition present in ancient remains, but also the point of life in which it occurred.…”

Anthropology at Jagiellonian University (Cracow, Poland) - past, present and future

“…4). Experience gained in the analysis of skeletal and crematory materials by traditional methods, palaeopathological research, multifaceted physical and chemical as well as palaeoserological and genetic research has significantly broadened the scope of studies on the biology of prehistoric and historical populations [26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38].…”