Naslov
Two cases of neurogenic paralysis in medieval skeletal samples from Croatia

Autori
Novak, Mario ; Čavka, Mislav ; Šlaus, Mario

Izvornik
International journal of paleopathology (1879-9817) 7 (2014); 25-32

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
Limb asymmetry ; Triplegia ; Cerebral palsy ; Paralytic poliomyelitis

Sažetak
Osteological changes consistent with neurogenic paralysis were observed in one male and one female skeleton recovered from two Croatian medieval sites – Virje and Zadar. Both skeletons display limb asymmetry typical of neurogenic paralysis that occurs during the childhood. The male skeleton displays atrophy and shortening of the right arm and the right femur, while the female skeleton exhibits identical changes on the right arm and both legs. Additionally, both skeletons exhibit scoliotic changes of the spine, and the female skeleton also displays bilateral hip dysplasia. Differential diagnosis included disorders such as cerebral palsy, poliomyelitis, cerebrovascular accident, and Rasmussen’s encephalitis. These are the first cases of neurogenic paralysis (cerebral palsy and/or paralytic poliomyelitis) identified in Croatian archeological series. The Virje skeleton is only the third case of hemiplegia identified from archeological contexts (first with spinal scoliosis), while the Zadar skeleton represents the first case of triplegia reported in the paleopathological literature.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Arheologija

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