Ankylosing spondylitis and heterotopic calcification: a case from the Prehispanic population of Buenavista del Norte (Tenerife, Canary Islands)
González-Reimers, Emilio; Cockerill, Samuel James; Marrero-Salas, Efraín; Ruiz-González, Hacomar; Vacas-Fumero, Emilio; Arnay-de-la-Rosa, Matilde
Anthropologischer Anzeiger Volume 82 No. 1 (2025), p. 73 - 88
published: Feb 11, 2025
published online: Aug 12, 2024
manuscript accepted: May 30, 2024
final revised version received: May 30, 2024
manuscript revision requested: Mar 10, 2024
manuscript received: Dec 30, 2023
DOI: 10.1127/anthranz/2024/1786
ArtNo. ESP140008201008, Price: 29.00 €
Abstract
Skeletal remains of an adult (estimated age at death ≈ 27–30 years) Prehispanic male with fusion in the sacroiliac joints showed a heterotopic ossification consisting of a flat, 10 × 5 cm bone formation covering the posterior aspect of the right sacroiliac joint. The bones were recovered from a burial cave containing remains of 4 individuals, located on the side of a ravine, in Buenavista del Norte (NW corner of Tenerife, Canary Islands), at ≈ 450 m altitude. This individual was probably affected by ankylosing spondylitis (AS) that led to bony fusion of the pelvic bones with the sacrum, but several unusual features prompted us to compare the pelvis with those belonging to two modern individuals affected by AS (20th century) housed at the Department of Anatomy of the school of medicine (University of La Laguna, Tenerife). The Prehispanic individual possibly suffered a pelvic fracture that caused a hematoma which underwent ossification. Some features (periosteal reaction, formation of new foramina) may also suggest a superimposed infection. The fracture altered the pelvic structure, severely narrowing the right sciatic notch, possibly causing neural and/or vascular compromise of the lower limbs. Living in a steep mountainous environment, this individual (possibly a goatherder) probably suffered a fall, that caused the fracture complicated by a severe bleeding and pelvic deformation.
Keywords
Ankylosing spondylitis • Pelvic fracture • Heterotopic bone formation • Hematoma ossification • Guanches • Prehispanic Canary Islands