Robusticity and osteoarthritis at the trapeziometacarpal joint in a Bronze Age population from Tell Abraq, United Arab Emirates

Bibliographic Data

ID8312946
AuthorsJanet M Cope (0000-0002-5199-9358, Springfield College, corresponding author), Alison C Berryman (Springfield College), Debra L Martins (0000-0001-7341-8908, Hampshire College), Debra L Martin, Daniel D Potts (The University of Sydney)
Year2005
Volume126
Issue4
Pages391-400
Publication date2005-04-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Journal of Physical Anthropology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0002-9483 • E-ISSN: 1096-8644
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/ajpa.20097
PMID15386292
OpenAlexW2124490314
LanguageEN
Citations received20
References cited30

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a progressive disease of the joints and can cause pain, reduced range of motion and strength, and ultimately loss of function at affected joints. Osteoarthritis often occurs at sites where biomechanical stress is acutely severe or moderate but habitual over the course of a lifetime. Skeletal remains from an Umm an-Nar tomb at Tell Abraq, United Arab Emirates (ca. 2300 BC), were recovered and represented over 300 individuals of all ages. The remains were disarticulated, commingled, and mostly fragmented. An analysis of 650 well-preserved adult metacarpal and carpal bones, from the tomb's western chamber, revealed that over 53% of the trapeziometacarpal joint facets showed signs of OA varying from mild to severe. The first and second metacarpals and trapezium bones were sided and evaluated for OA at the trapeziometacarpal joint articulations. Osteoarthritis was detected on 53% of the first metacarpals, 40% of the second metacarpals, and 57% of the trapezium bones. All specimens appeared enlarged, and the first metacarpals were assessed for sexual identification and robusticity. Eighty-five percent of the bones were probable males, and more than 80% of them had a robusticity index of 60 or higher. A strong correlation was found between OA, sex, and robusticity. High levels of OA and robusticity at the thumb suggest that the people of Tell Abraq were habitually involved in biomechanically challenging work with their hands

Carpal bones · Carpal Joint · Metacarpal bones · Osteoarthritis · Pathology · Population · Thumb · Wrist · Anatomy · Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies · Medicine · Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation · Orthodontics · Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation

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