It is always a gamble, suggesting a diagnosis for a bone pathology with
seeing the specimen! However, the cattle metatarsal that you describe
maybe showing the early stages of a chronic arthropathy that would
likely have become full-blown osteoarthritis given time. When
weight-bearing joints sustain low-level damage from repeated stress, it
is not unusual for the boney joint surface to be increased in area, as
if the skeleton were trying to reduce the pressure on a damaged
articular surface by 'spreading the load'. This extension of the
articular surface will be accompanied by alteration of the bone surface
itself IF the articular cartilage is sufficiently damaged, allowing, for
example, eburnation to develop. In the case that you describe, the
joint may not have reached that stage: there was enough chronic
arthropathy to trigger the abnormal growth, but not enough cartilage
damage to have left clear traces on the bone.
At least, that's what it sounds like!
Terry O'Connor
-----Original Message-----
From: Analysis of animal remains from archaeological sites
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Lena Strid
Sent: 24 September 2003 15:59
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [ZOOARCH] Cattle metatarsal pathology
I've got a cattle metatarsal (Early Medieval hill fort) with an odd
pathology on the distal end. Extra bone growth has extended the joint
surface of the lateral half of the lateral epicondyle. The bone growth
is smooth. A similar condition is also found on a sheep metatarsal from
an urban post-medieval site.
Does anyone know what this is, and what may have caused it?
/ Lena
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