Congenital kyphosis due to a body agenesis from Ancient Egypt.

In Paleopathology, total lack of a vertebral body is a rare finding, mostly due to infectious diseases or tumors. We report the case of an adult male from the necropolis next to "Temple of the Millions of Years" of Thutmose III dated to the Late Old Kingdom and First Intermediate Period (2345-2055 BCE). He showed a fracture of T12, more than 50%, associated with the complete disappearance of the body of L1 and bilateral transverse process. Infection and tumor involvement were ruled out due to the morphology of the spinal segment. The most likely diagnosis was complete body agenesis. Congenital kyphosis related to vertebral agenesis has been described as a possibility in paleopathology, but it had not been reported until now.

Anterior tibial tubercle osteotomy using cerclage wire fixation in total knee replacement: a modification of the usual technique.

Anterior tibial tubercle (ATT) osteotomy facilitates exposure in knee arthroplasty. However, it is not without complications. We have introduced some technical modifications that reduce the surgical aggression by designing a short osteotomy that does not invade the intramedullary canal, and synthesizing it with three cerclage wires with a particular layout that increases the solidity of the system. A retrospective review was performed on the surgical revision of total knee replacement cases intervened in our center that required an ATT osteotomy from February 2014 to February 2015, and who had a minimum clinical follow-up of 12 months. In all cases, there was an average proximal increase in ATT of 5 mm and, however, did not result in any loss of knee extension. All the osteotomies achieved complete bone consolidation at 3 months. There were no other complications. Our technique may be a valid option as it shows satisfactory results and demonstrates that a small increase in ATT does not affect the final clinical outcome.

Un sarcófago con sorpresa: estudio con tomografía computarizada de una momia egipcia de Baja Época / A sarcophagus with a surprise: computed tomography of a mummy from the Late Period of ancient Egypt

Introducción. Las técnicas de diagnóstico por imagen, y actualmente la tomografía computarizada (TC), se han convertido en el método no invasivo más importante en el estudio de momias, ya que permiten obtener imágenes de alta resolución y efectuar reconstrucciones tridimensionales sin dañar al individuo. Presentamos un sarcófago egipcio de Baja Época adquirido por una galería de Barcelona en el que se halló una momia oculta hasta entonces. Material y método. El sarcófago y la momia fueron examinados mediante TC en el Hospital Universitari Sagrat Cor de Barcelona. Mediante una pinza flexible se obtuvieron muestras de tejido para su estudio. Resultados. Los resultados mostraron la presencia de un individuo femenino en conexión anatómica, aunque desestructurado en el tórax y la parte superior del abdomen. Se detectaron varios objetos metálicos, que se correspondían con amuletos, ojos artificiales y un tutor externo de madera. Conclusión. La TC es una técnica de imagen no invasiva excelente para el estudio detallado de momias, ya que permite no solo su identificación anatómica, sino también la obtención de muestras de estudio para análisis complementarios. La descripción de estos hallazgos nos permite conocer los principales hitos de la radiología en el estudio paleopatológico de momias (AU)

Introduction. Diagnostic imaging techniques, at present especially computed tomography (CT), have become the most important noninvasive method for the study of mummies because they enable high resolution images and three-dimensional reconstructions without damaging the mummified subject. We present a sarcophagus with a mummy hidden inside that was acquired by a gallery in Barcelona. Material and methods. The sarcophagus and mummy were examined by CT at the Hospital Universitari Sagrat Cor in Barcelona. A flexible clamp was used to obtain tissue samples for further study. Results. The results showed the presence of an anatomically intact female human subject albeit with a destructured thorax and upper abdomen. Various metal objects were detected, corresponding to amulets, artificial eyes, and an external wooden brace. Conclusion. CT is an excellent noninvasive imaging technique for the detailed study of mummies, as it enables not only the anatomic identification of the mummified subject but also the obtainment of tissue samples for complementary analyses. The description of these findings enables us to know the major radiologic landmarks for the paleopathologic study of mummies (AU)

[A sarcophagus with a surprise: computed tomography of a mummy from the Late Period of ancient Egypt]. / Un sarcófago con sorpresa: estudio con tomografía computarizada de una momia egipcia de Baja Época.

INTRODUCTION: Diagnostic imaging techniques, at present especially computed tomography (CT), have become the most important noninvasive method for the study of mummies because they enable high resolution images and three-dimensional reconstructions without damaging the mummified subject. We present a sarcophagus with a mummy hidden inside that was acquired by a gallery in Barcelona. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The sarcophagus and mummy were examined by CT at the Hospital Universitari Sagrat Cor in Barcelona. A flexible clamp was used to obtain tissue samples for further study. RESULTS: The results showed the presence of an anatomically intact female human subject albeit with a destructured thorax and upper abdomen. Various metal objects were detected, corresponding to amulets, artificial eyes, and an external wooden brace. CONCLUSION: CT is an excellent noninvasive imaging technique for the detailed study of mummies, as it enables not only the anatomic identification of the mummified subject but also the obtainment of tissue samples for complementary analyses. The description of these findings enables us to know the major radiologic landmarks for the paleopathologic study of mummies.

Approach to the diagnosis of unusual carpal ankylosis from ancient Egypt.

OBJECTIVES: Carpal fusion is not an uncommon finding in archaeological bones. The majority of cases are due to inflammatory or infectious diseases and those are usually associated with other major alterations in the skeleton. METHODS: Two distinct individual cases, both adult females recovered from the Necropolis of Sharuna in the Middle Egypt from the Ptolemaic Period (IV to I BC) are presented in this study. Specimen 4323/1 shows a fusion of the scaphoid, lunate and triquetral bones in the right wrist. Specimen 4323/2 is a very rare fusion of a dysplastic lunate bone with the radius in the left wrist. In the proximal end of that left wrist, two possible remains of the flattened scaphoid and triquetral bones are also present. RESULTS: A differential diagnosis of both abnormalities as well as broad research into similar paleopathological cases were carried out: the most probable diagnosis for the specimen 4323/1 is an uncommon carpal coalition of three bones from the same row; the diagnosis of the specimen 4323/2 is more dubious with both rheumatoid arthritis and septic arthritis being strong candidates. CONCLUSIONS: In archaeological remains, carpal fusion should be thoroughly studied in order to ensure an accurate differential diagnosis.