Bilateral congenital radioulnar synostosis in an Early Horizon subadult burial from the site of Atalla, Peru.

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to identify pathological conditions within the population living at Atalla (1000-500 BCE), an important early village site and ritual center located in Huancavelica, Peru. MATERIALS: Articulated burials (N = 3) and commingled human remains excavated during the 2015 and 2016 field seasons. METHODS: Osteological remains were analyzed for macroscopic evidence of pathological changes. RESULTS: A case of bilateral proximal radioulnar fusion was observed in an Early Horizon (ca. 800 BCE) subadult skeleton (Individual 1). A differential diagnosis of this pathology supports congenital radioulnar synostosis (CRUS), a rare developmental condition. Enamel hypoplasia was also identified in the same individual. CONCLUSIONS: Burial treatment of Individual 1 does not provide any indication that CRUS was afforded an exceptional social significance. CONTRIBUTION TO PALEOPATHOLOGY: This example of CRUS is notable as it represents the second published archaeological case of CRUS from Peru and the earliest reported case globally. LIMITATIONS OF THIS STUDY: The osteological sample currently available from this site is limited. SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH: Increased fieldwork in this region is recommended to further clarify the distribution and social significance of CRUS in the prehistoric Andes.

"Bochdalek" skull (syngnathia): CT examination.

Bony fusion of the jaws (syngnathia) without any other anatomic oral anomalies is an unusual condition. It is believed that important factors can be congenital. Some cases with combination of cleft palate, aglossia, and soft or bony adhesion between the maxilla and mandible have been reported. Congenital syngnathia could also occur with Treacher-Collins syndrome, pterygium syndrome and van der Woude syndrome. In this study, girl skull with jaw anomaly depicted by prof. Bochdalek in XIX. century was re-examined using CT method to explain possible mechanism of this anomaly development. Our report presents a case of syngnathia with bilateral vision where mandible, maxilla, zygomatic and palatal bones are mutually connected. CT findings strongly support the idea about of mechanical trauma triggering a chain of bone disturbances in facial skeleton. With high probability most of the teeth were extracted later to keep the oral cavity open (Fig. 9, Ref. 32).

Unilateral ectrodactyly, metatarsal synostosis, and hypoplasia in an Eskimo.

A unilateral foot deformity in an archaeological specimen from Point Hope, Alaska, is presented. Radiographic and gross examination of the bones of the malformed left foot suggests that this adult female suffered from a rare and possibly unique limb deficiency presenting as unilateral congenital absence of the phalanges, synostosis and hypoplasia of the metatarsals, and mild hypoplasia of the calcaneus.

[The most ancient case of synostosis of the carpal bones: pyramido-lunate synostosis in La Ferrassie man]. / Le plus ancien cas de synostose du carpe: la synostose pyramido-lunaire de la Ferrassie.

Re-examining the Neandertal skeleton La Ferrassie II, the authors found a synostosis of the right carpus with fusion of the lunate and the triquetrum. This congenital abnormality had never been noticed before. Reconstruction of the right carpus of the Man of La Ferrassie II is now complete.