Contribution
Physical disability in Late Antiquity Milan: slipped capital femoral epiphysis with severe secondary joint disease in the Basilica of San Dionigi
Biehler-Gomez, Lucie; Mattia, Mirko; Piccolo, Elisabetta; Maderna, Emanuela; Fedeli, Anna Maria; Messina, Carmelo; Slavazzi, Fabrizio; Cattaneo, Cristina
HOMO Volume 73 No 1 (2022), p. 61 - 67
publié: Nov 9, 2022
publication en ligne: Oct 11, 2022
manuscrit accepté: Jul 11, 2022
révision final du manuscrit reçu: Jul 11, 2022
révision du manuscrit demandée: Mar 31, 2022
manuscrit reçu: Jul 21, 2021
Open Access (article peut être télechargé gratuitement)
Abstract
The paper presents the skeletal remains of an adult male of 30–40 years with bone lesions and deformity on the left hip, recovered during the archaeological excavation below the former Basilica of San Dionigi, dated to Late Antiquity (3rd – 5th century AD) Milan. Biological profile and paleopathological analysis were performed following standard references and the bones underwent radiological examination. Differential diagnosis included congenital anomaly, active rickets, infectious diseases, femoral neck trauma, Legg-Carvé-Perthes disease, Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis (SFCE), osteogenesis imperfecta and osteoporosis. While the lesions were highly consistent with Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease, they were typical of SFCE, complicated by an avascular necrosis and secondary osteoarthrosis. The alteration of the femoral head led to a 7.8% leg-length discrepancy, causing gait alteration with partial compensation though increased muscular activity on the right leg, reduced mobility of the joint and potentially hip pain, difficulty in walking and running and even limping. This paper explores a case of physical disability from the Roman era found near a Christian place of worship and represents a rare case of SFCE in the paleopathological record.
Mots-clefs
slipped capital femoral epiphysis • cripple • osteonecrosis • late antiquity • physical disability • Roman era