RESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: Osteoporosis is a systemic disease of the skeletal system characterised by reduced bone strength leading to increased risk of fracture. Bone strength is a combined derivative of bone mineral density (BMD) and of bone tissue quality. Osteoporosis is a serious medical problem because of its complications, most frequently manifesting itself in spine fractures, fractures of distal sections of the forearm and, in later periods of life, hip fractures. Reduced BMD is an independent risk factor of osteoporosis. The goal of the study was an evaluation of bone mineral density of the population inhabiting the micro-region of Brzesc Kujawski from the 11(th) century until the beginning of the 19th century. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Human bones obtained from archaeological excavations at four archaeological sites: Kolonia (11th-13th centuries), SBK-4 (12th-16th centuries), Fara (14th-17th centuries) and Swiety Duch (16th-19th centuries) and from the collections of the Katedra of Anthropology of the University of Lódz were subjected to study. Bone mineral densities of the skeleton populations were compared with those of the control group, namely the present living population of the Lódz Province. The incidence of osteoporosis was evaluated by densitometric assessment, which was performed by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) on a DPX device (LUNAR, USA). RESULTS: The densitometric measurements performed enabled differences to be identified in the mineral density of the osseous tissue. The skeletal groups studied were characterised by a significantly higher mean BMD than the contemporary living population. Changes in BMD indicative of osteopenia prevailed in women. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of the results obtained it cannot definitively be stated that the skeletal groups studied, despite their significantly higher BMD, were affected by a lower risk of osteoporosis and its complications. A continuation of studies on the mineral content of bones and on the relationship between the mineral content and bone mineral density is required.
Asunto(s)
Densidad Ósea , Huesos/diagnóstico por imagen , Osteoporosis/epidemiología , Osteoporosis/historia , Absorciometría de Fotón , Adulto , Antropometría , Arqueología , Femenino , Antebrazo/diagnóstico por imagen , Historia del Siglo XV , Historia del Siglo XVI , Historia del Siglo XVII , Historia del Siglo XVIII , Historia del Siglo XIX , Historia del Siglo XX , Historia Medieval , Humanos , Vértebras Lumbares/diagnóstico por imagen , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Osteoporosis/diagnóstico por imagen , Polonia/epidemiología , Prevalencia , Valores de Referencia , Distribución por Sexo , Columna Vertebral/diagnóstico por imagenRESUMEN
The purpose of the study was to analyse the occurrence of the third trochanter and its correlation with the morphology of the human femur. The third trochanter was found in 38 of 622 (6.2%) human femora taken from 3 excavation sites. 36 of these were included in the study and were compared to the femora without the third trochanter. The bones with the third trochanter were characterised by a greater superior sagittal diameter and diaphysis platymetry index as well as a larger greater trochanter. These results suggest that the third trochanter is not a progressive morphological feature of the skeleton. Rather it is connected with an altered gluteal muscle function.