Broken ribs: Paleopathological analysis of costal fractures in the human identified skeletal collection from the Museu Bocage, Lisbon, Portugal (late 19th to middle 20th centuries)

摘要

Although rarely reported in the anthro-npological literature, rib fractures are commonly foundnduring the analysis of human skeletal remains of pastnand modern populations. This lack of published data pre-ncludes comparison between studies and restricts an accu-nrate understanding either of the mechanisms involved innthoracic injuries or their impact on past societies. Thenpresent study aimed: 1) to report rib fracture prevalencenin 197 individuals, 109 males, and 88 females, with agesnat death ranging from 13 to 88 years old, from thenHuman Identified Skeletal Collection, Museu Bocage,nPortugal (late 19th-middle 20th centuries); 2) to test thenhypothesis that a higher prevalence of rib stress frac-ntures existed in the 133 individuals who died from respi-nratory diseases, in a period before antibiotics. The mac-nroscopic analysis revealed 23.9% (n 5 47) of individualsnwith broken ribs. 2.6% (n 5 124) out of 4,726 ribsnobserved were affected. Males presented more rib frac-ntures, and a significantly higher prevalence was notednfor older individuals. Fractures were more frequentlynunilateral (n 5 34), left sided (n 5 19) and mainlynlocated on the shaft of ribs from the middle thoracicnwall. Nineteen individuals presented adjacent fracturednribs. Individuals who died from pulmonary diseasesnwere not preferentially affected. However, a highernmean rate of fractures was found in those who diednfrom pneumonia, a scenario still common nowadays.nSince rib involvement in chest wall injury and itsnrelated outcomes are important issues both for paleopa-nthology and forensic anthropology, further investiga-ntions are warranted