1
|
Hernigou P, Hosny GA, Scarlat M. Evolution of orthopaedic diseases through four thousand three hundred years: from ancient Egypt with virtual examinations of mummies to the twenty-first century. Int Orthop 2024; 48:865-884. [PMID: 37867166 DOI: 10.1007/s00264-023-06012-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE This study conducts a comprehensive comparative analysis of bone pathologies between ancient Egypt and today. We aim to elucidate the prevalence, types, and potential aetiological factors influencing skeletal disorders in these two distinct temporal and cultural contexts. METHODS The research employs a multidisciplinary approach, integrating osteological, paleopathological, and historical data to understand bone pathologies in mummies and the actual world. Applying radiographs and CT scans as noninvasive techniques has shed new light on past diseases such as fractures, dysplasia, osteoarthritis, surgery, and tuberculosis. Virtual inspection has almost replaced classical autopsy and is essential, especially when dealing with museum specimens. RESULTS Findings indicate no significant disparities in the prevalence and types of bone pathologies through 4300 years of evolution. Moreover, this study sheds light on the impact of sociocultural factors on bone health. Examination of ancient Egypt's burial practices and associated cultural beliefs provides insights into potential behavioral and ritualistic influences on bone pathologies and the prevalence of specific pathologies in the past and present. CONCLUSION This comparative analysis illuminates the dynamic of bone pathologies, highlighting the interplay of biological, cultural, and environmental factors. By synthesizing archeological and clinical data, this research contributes to a more nuanced understanding of skeletal health's complexities in ancient and modern societies, offering valuable insights for anthropological and clinical disciplines.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Marius Scarlat
- Clinique Chirurgicale St Michel, Groupe ELSAN, Toulon, France
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Melnyk OP, Guminskii JJ, Strnad A, Shevchuk ІV, Zalevskyi LL, Stelmashchuk PO, Hrytsenko SI, Melnyk OO, Dzetkuličová V, Frišhons J. Results of full-body CT examination of the embalmed body of N. I. Pirogov. Forensic Imaging 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fri.2022.200518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
|
3
|
|
4
|
Yatsishina EB, Vasilyev SV, Borutskaya SB, Nikitin AS, Nikitin SA, Galeev RM, Kartashov SI, Ushakov VL, Vasilieva OA, Dyuzheva OP, Novikov MM, Chichaev IA. A Multidisciplinary Study of Egyptian Mummies from the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts (Methodical Aspects). Arheol ètnogr antropol Evrazii 2019. [DOI: 10.17746/1563-0110.2019.47.3.136-144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
We present the results of a multidisciplinary study (the fi rst one in Russia) of nine Egyptian mummies owned by the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts (Moscow), carried out at the Kurchatov Institute. A detailed description of the methods is provided. X-ray computed tomography is shown to be a highly informative non-destructive technique for studying the 3D structures of mummies. On the basis of the results, plus the conclusions of forensic experts, a detailed anthropological analysis was conducted. Mummifi cation techniques, sex, and age of all individuals were assessed. In three cases, the sex differed from that indicated in the museum inventory. Morphologically, all crania represent varieties of the Mediterranean type. One individual, however, has typically sub-Saharan features. Pathological changes concern mostly the spine and are both age-related and traumatic. In two individuals, spinal pathologies might have caused death.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - S. V. Vasilyev
- Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology, Russian Academy of Sciences
| | | | - A. S. Nikitin
- Evdokimov Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry
| | - S. A. Nikitin
- Bureau of Forensic Medical Expertise, Moscow Health Department
| | - R. M. Galeev
- Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology, Russian Academy of Sciences
| | | | | | | | | | - M. M. Novikov
- Federal Scientifi c Research Centre “Crystallography and Photonics”, Russian Academy of Sciences
| | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
Wang H, Chen JM, Wang XS, You ZQ, Chen D, Chen QL, Wu XY, Peng GC, Xia ZD, Tang HH, Yan XX, Huang JF, Luo XG. Reappraisal of the Mawangdui Han Tomb Cadaver Thirty Years After Its Unearthing. Biopreserv Biobank 2019; 17:98-104. [PMID: 30920309 DOI: 10.1089/bio.2019.0002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The Mawangdui tomb No.1 cadaver, a female corpse from the Western Han Dynasty, was unearthed in 1972. Forensic examination at the time of discovery indicated fairly remarkable presence of bodily constituents at the anatomical, histological, and molecular levels. The cadaver was preserved in a formalin-based fixative afterward, and maintained in the Hunan Museum. To better protect this rare human corpse, a reappraisal of the status of preservation was carried out using noninvasive approaches, including X-ray radiography, gross anatomical examination, and histological, microbiological, and molecular analyses of sampled tissues. The cadaver remained essentially intact from a gross anatomical perspective, with radiography of the skeletal system and arterial contrast filling appeared comparable with the original documentation. The light microscopic features of the skin, cartilage, and skeletal muscle remained detectable, as were the stratified ultrastructure of the collagen and muscle fibers. The levels of nitrogen and amino acidic elements appeared elevated in the cadaver and liver preservation fixatives, with a higher calcium and phosphate concentration in the former. These findings suggest that there existed a certain degree of macromolecule degradation and bone decalcification in the cadaver, likely irrelevant to biological decomposition. The reappraisal also led to the implementation of stronger scientific measures to better protect the cadaver through a renovated Museum-University coadministrative management agreement.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hui Wang
- 1 Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Central South University Xiangya School of Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, China.,2 Center for Preservation of Mawangdui Han Tomb Cadaver, Morphological Science Building, Central South University Xiangya School of Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Jian-Ming Chen
- 1 Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Central South University Xiangya School of Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, China.,3 Hunan Museum, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Xiao-Sheng Wang
- 1 Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Central South University Xiangya School of Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, China.,2 Center for Preservation of Mawangdui Han Tomb Cadaver, Morphological Science Building, Central South University Xiangya School of Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Zhen-Qun You
- 2 Center for Preservation of Mawangdui Han Tomb Cadaver, Morphological Science Building, Central South University Xiangya School of Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, China.,3 Hunan Museum, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Dan Chen
- 1 Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Central South University Xiangya School of Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, China.,2 Center for Preservation of Mawangdui Han Tomb Cadaver, Morphological Science Building, Central South University Xiangya School of Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Qing-Lin Chen
- 2 Center for Preservation of Mawangdui Han Tomb Cadaver, Morphological Science Building, Central South University Xiangya School of Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Xiao-Ying Wu
- 2 Center for Preservation of Mawangdui Han Tomb Cadaver, Morphological Science Building, Central South University Xiangya School of Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Guang-Chun Peng
- 4 Department of Radiology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Zhong-Di Xia
- 2 Center for Preservation of Mawangdui Han Tomb Cadaver, Morphological Science Building, Central South University Xiangya School of Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Hui-Huan Tang
- 5 Department of General Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Xiao-Xin Yan
- 1 Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Central South University Xiangya School of Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, China.,2 Center for Preservation of Mawangdui Han Tomb Cadaver, Morphological Science Building, Central South University Xiangya School of Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Ju-Fang Huang
- 1 Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Central South University Xiangya School of Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, China.,2 Center for Preservation of Mawangdui Han Tomb Cadaver, Morphological Science Building, Central South University Xiangya School of Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Xue-Gang Luo
- 1 Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Central South University Xiangya School of Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, China.,2 Center for Preservation of Mawangdui Han Tomb Cadaver, Morphological Science Building, Central South University Xiangya School of Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, China
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Abstract
In the past, autoptic examinations were usually performed for research. This type of examination, for obvious reasons, did not appeal to paleopathologists as these procedures potentially damaged the finds destined to musealization. Since the discovery of X-ray, radiology has been used to study mummies as a noninvasive technique. The radiology of mummies allows us to discover pathologies, to elaborate on the type of ritual mummification for the artificial embalming, to comprehend the diagenetic process that guaranteed a natural mummification, or to conclude anthropological identification. We present a review on the latest studies on mummies that have shown that the radiological approach has been essential to conduct research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marta Licata
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, Centre of Research in Osteoarchaeology and Paleopathology, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy.
| | - Adelaide Tosi
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, Centre of Research in Osteoarchaeology and Paleopathology, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | - Omar Larentis
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, Centre of Research in Osteoarchaeology and Paleopathology, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | - Chiara Rossetti
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, Centre of Research in Osteoarchaeology and Paleopathology, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | - Silvia Lorio
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Unit of History of Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Pinto
- Department of Radiology, CTO Hospital, Azienda Ospedaliera dei Colli, Naples, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Herrerin J, Prats A, Ledesma L, Isidro A. Syrinx in Spinal Cord in Mummified Individual from West Thebes (Egypt). World Neurosurg 2018; 118:230-4. [PMID: 30048794 DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2018.07.110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2018] [Revised: 07/11/2018] [Accepted: 07/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
We analyzed a total of 36 partial or complete mummies containing neural structures from Sharuna and Qarara (Middle Egypt) and Dra Abu-el Naga, West Thebes (Upper Egypt). Individual TT16 13.3-B06-Ind07 corresponded to a partial mummy from T2 to T11. At distal levels, it showed a structure compatible with the lower spinal cord (SC). Under magnification, the structure presented an absence of meningeal remains and a butterfly-like substructure resembling the anterior and posterior horns of the gray matter of the SC. Meanwhile, the central canal of the spinal cord (syrinx) was considerably enlarged. Field radiograph confirmed a structure compatible with the SC with a syrinx that shows a maximum diameter of 3.2 mm measured by digital caliper. Bearing in mind the normal shrinking mechanism at work in mummification, a pathologic condition such as syringomyelia during the individual's life is a distinct possibility. After a thorough review of the literature, this would be the earliest report of syringomyelia.
Collapse
|
8
|
Yatsishina EB, Kovalchuk MV, Loshak MD, Vasilyev SV, Vasilieva OA, Dyuzheva OP, Pojidaev VM, Ushakov VL. Interdisciplinary Study of Egyptian Mummies from the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts Collection at the National Research Centre “Kurchatov Institute”. CRYSTALLOGR REP+ 2018. [DOI: 10.1134/s1063774518030343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
|
9
|
Colleter R, Dedouit F, Duchesne S, Gérard P, Dercle L, Poilpré P, Gendrot V, Rousseau H, Crubézy É, Telmon N, Mokrane FZ. Study of a seventeenth-century French artificial mummy: autopsical, native, and contrast-injected CT investigations. Int J Legal Med 2018; 132:1405-1413. [PMID: 29594348 DOI: 10.1007/s00414-018-1830-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2017] [Accepted: 03/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A lead coffin was fortuitously discovered in a church called "Eglise des Toussaints" in Rennes (French Brittany). A collaborative taskforce investigated this extraordinary discovery. A multi-disciplinary team of experts from the National Institute for Preventive Archeological Research (INRAP) and Rangueil University Hospital of Toulouse was created, including anthropologists, archeologists, forensic pathologists, radiologists, and pathologists. The inscription on the lead coffin specified that the body belonged to "Messer Louys de Bruslon, Lord of Plessis," a nobleman who died on November 1, 1661. Multiple holes were visible in the lead coffin, and deterioration threatened the mummy. We opened the lead coffin and discovered an excellently preserved mummy, except for mostly skeletonized upper and lower limbs. The mummy was conserved in several layers of shrouds. Vegetal embalming material covered the head and filled the face, the thorax, and the abdomen. The embalmers had removed all thoracic and abdominal organs and conserved some pelvic organs (e.g., the bladder). METHODS Multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) scanner evaluated the mummy, at each step of our analysis. The excellent preservation of abdominal vascular axes led us to perform a CT angiography using Angiofil®, an oily contrast agent developed for postmortem imaging, before an autopsy. RESULTS Sub-diaphragmatic arteries, including the abdominal aorta and iliac arteries, were excellently preserved. The vascular contrast agent filled all arteries. The native CT, CT angiography, and autopsy did not detect any vascular lesion. CONCLUSION Our study, based on rare archeological material, allowed a complete examination of an excellently preserved seventeenth-century mummy, using MSCT, angiography, and an autopsy. We did not detect any arterial lesion and proposed a comprehensive description of the embalmment process.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rozenn Colleter
- INRAP National Institute of Preventive Archaeological Research (INRAP, France), 37 rue du Bignon, CS 67737, 35577, Cesson-Sévigné, France
- AMIS Laboratory: University of Toulouse, French National Center for Scientific Research, UMR 5288, 37 allées Jules Guesde, 31073, Toulouse, France
| | - Fabrice Dedouit
- AMIS Laboratory: University of Toulouse, French National Center for Scientific Research, UMR 5288, 37 allées Jules Guesde, 31073, Toulouse, France
- Unit of Forensic and Anthropological Imaging, Centre Universitaire Romand de Médecine Légale (CURML), Chemin de la Vulliette 4, CH-1000, Lausanne 25, Switzerland
| | - Sylvie Duchesne
- INRAP National Institute of Preventive Archaeological Research (INRAP, France), 37 rue du Bignon, CS 67737, 35577, Cesson-Sévigné, France
- AMIS Laboratory: University of Toulouse, French National Center for Scientific Research, UMR 5288, 37 allées Jules Guesde, 31073, Toulouse, France
| | - Patrice Gérard
- AMIS Laboratory: University of Toulouse, French National Center for Scientific Research, UMR 5288, 37 allées Jules Guesde, 31073, Toulouse, France
| | - Laurent Dercle
- Gustave Roussy Institute, Université Paris-Saclay, F-94805, Villejuif, France
- New York Presbyterian Hospital, Columbia University, New York City, NY, USA
| | - Pierre Poilpré
- INRAP National Institute of Preventive Archaeological Research (INRAP, France), 37 rue du Bignon, CS 67737, 35577, Cesson-Sévigné, France
| | - Véronique Gendrot
- French Regional Archaeological Service, Bretagne Avenue Charles Foulon, 35700, Rennes, France
- French National Center for Scientific Research, UMR 6566, Rennes, France
| | - Hervé Rousseau
- Radiology Department, Rangueil University Hospital, 1 Avenue du Professeur Jean Poulhes, 31059 Cedex, Toulouse, France
| | - Éric Crubézy
- AMIS Laboratory: University of Toulouse, French National Center for Scientific Research, UMR 5288, 37 allées Jules Guesde, 31073, Toulouse, France
| | - Norbert Telmon
- AMIS Laboratory: University of Toulouse, French National Center for Scientific Research, UMR 5288, 37 allées Jules Guesde, 31073, Toulouse, France
- Forensic Department, Rangueil University Hospital, 1 avenue du Professeur Jean Poulhes, 31059 Cedex, Toulouse, France
| | - Fatima-Zohra Mokrane
- AMIS Laboratory: University of Toulouse, French National Center for Scientific Research, UMR 5288, 37 allées Jules Guesde, 31073, Toulouse, France.
- New York Presbyterian Hospital, Columbia University, New York City, NY, USA.
- Radiology Department, Rangueil University Hospital, 1 Avenue du Professeur Jean Poulhes, 31059 Cedex, Toulouse, France.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Panzer S, Wittig H, Zesch S, Rosendahl W, Blache S, Müller-Gerbl M, Hotz G. Evidence of neurofibromatosis type 1 in a multi-morbid Inca child mummy: A paleoradiological investigation using computed tomography. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0175000. [PMID: 28403237 PMCID: PMC5389647 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0175000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2016] [Accepted: 03/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective In this study, an Inca bundle was examined using computed tomography (CT). The primary aim was to determine the preservation status of bony and soft tissues, the sex, the age at the time of death, possible indicators for disease or even the cause of death, as well as the kind of mummification. A secondary aim was to obtain a brief overview of the wrapping in order to gain additional information on the cultural background. Materials and methods The bundle belongs to the Museum of Cultures in Basel, Switzerland, and was bought in Munich, Germany, in 1921. Radiocarbon dating of the superficial textile yielded a calibrated age between 1480 and 1650 AD. The mummy was investigated using multi-slice CT with slice thickness of 0.75 mm and 110 kilovolt. For standardized assessment of soft tissue preservation, a recently developed checklist was applied. Results CT revealed the mummy of a seven to nine year old boy with superior preservation of bony and soft tissues allowing detailed assessment. Indicators of neurofibromatosis type 1 (paravertebral and cutaneous neurofibromas, a breast neurofibroma, sphenoid wing dysplasia), Chagas disease (dilatation of the esophagus, stomach, rectum, and large amounts of feces), and lung infection (pleural adherence, calcifications), probably due to tuberculosis, were found. Furthermore, signs of peri-mortem violence (transection of the chest and a defect in the abdominal wall) were detected. CT images revealed a carefully performed wrapping. Conclusion CT examination of the Inca bundle proved to be an important non-destructive examination method. Standardized assessment, especially of the soft tissue structures, allowed for diagnoses of several diseases, indicating a multi-morbid child at the time of death. The careful wrapping pointed to a ceremonial burial. Within the cultural background, the signs of fatal violence were discussed as a possible result of war, murder, accident, or human sacrifice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Panzer
- Department of Radiology, Trauma Center Murnau, Murnau, Germany
- Institute of Biomechanics, Trauma Center Murnau and Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, Murnau, Germany
- * E-mail:
| | - Holger Wittig
- Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Stephanie Zesch
- German Mummy Project, Reiss-Engelhorn-Museen Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Wilfried Rosendahl
- German Mummy Project, Reiss-Engelhorn-Museen Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany
| | | | | | - Gerhard Hotz
- Anthropology, Natural History Museum of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|