Robusticity and osteoarthritis at the trapeziometacarpal joint in a Bronze Age population from Tell Abraq, United Arab Emirates

American Journal of Physical Anthropology
Janet M CopeDaniel D Potts

Abstract

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a progressive disease of the joints and can cause pain, reduced range of motion and strength, and ultimately loss of function at affected joints. Osteoarthritis often occurs at sites where biomechanical stress is acutely severe or moderate but habitual over the course of a lifetime. Skeletal remains from an Umm an-Nar tomb at Tell Abraq, United Arab Emirates (ca. 2300 BC), were recovered and represented over 300 individuals of all ages. The remains were disarticulated, commingled, and mostly fragmented. An analysis of 650 well-preserved adult metacarpal and carpal bones, from the tomb's western chamber, revealed that over 53% of the trapeziometacarpal joint facets showed signs of OA varying from mild to severe. The first and second metacarpals and trapezium bones were sided and evaluated for OA at the trapeziometacarpal joint articulations. Osteoarthritis was detected on 53% of the first metacarpals, 40% of the second metacarpals, and 57% of the trapezium bones. All specimens appeared enlarged, and the first metacarpals were assessed for sexual identification and robusticity. Eighty-five percent of the bones were probable males, and more than 80% of them had a robusticity index of 60 or higher. A strong c...Continue Reading

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Citations

Jul 9, 2013·Homo : internationale Zeitschrift für die vergleichende Forschung am Menschen·Elizabeth Weiss
Mar 23, 2011·Journal of Human Evolution·Campbell RolianJohn Paul Zermeno
Oct 10, 2013·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·Lesley A Gregoricka
Jan 14, 2009·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·Haagen D KlausManuel E Tam
Nov 5, 2019·The Anatomical Record : Advances in Integrative Anatomy and Evolutionary Biology·Anna MyszkaMarta Zalewska

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