Spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia tarda with progressive arthropathy complicated with paraplegia

Multiple occurrence of premature polyarticular osteoarthritis in an early medieval Bohemian cemetery (Prague, Czech Republic)

OBJECTIVES

To highlight conditions that may cause early-onset degenerative joint disease, and to assess the possible impact of such diseases upon everyday life.

MATERIAL

Four adults aged under 50 years from a medieval skeletal collection of Prague (Czechia).

METHODS

Visual, osteometric, X-ray, and histological examinations, stable isotope analysis of bone collagen.

RESULTS

All four individuals showed multiple symmetrical degenerative changes, affecting the majority of joints of the postcranial skeleton. Associated dysplastic deformities were observed in all individuals, including bilateral hip dysplasia (n = 1), flattening of the femoral condyles (n = 3), and substantial deformation of the elbows (n = 3). The diet of the affected individuals differed from the contemporary population sample.

CONCLUSIONS

We propose the diagnosis of a mild form of skeletal dysplasia in these four individuals, with multiple epiphyseal dysplasia or type-II collagenopathy linked to premature osteoarthritis as the most probable causes.

SIGNIFICANCE

Combining the skeletal findings with information from the medical literature, this paper defines several characteristic traits which may assist with the diagnosis of skeletal dysplasia in the archaeological record.

LIMITATIONS

As no genetic analysis was performed to confirm the possible kinship of the individuals, it is not possible to definitively assess whether the individuals suffered from the same hereditary condition or from different forms of skeletal dysplasia.

SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH

Further studies on premature osteoarthritis in archaeological skeletal series are needed to correct the underrepresentation of these mild forms of dysplasia in past populations.

Progressive pseudorheumotoid dysplasia: A presentation of four cases with slow and rapid progression and effects of early rehabilitation program

Progressive pseudorheumotoid dysplasia (PPD) is a rare hereditary musculoskeletal disorder which is usually misdiagnosed due to its clinical resemblance to juvenile idiopathic arthritis. It has a high incidence in the Middle East, Gulf States, and countries of Mediterranean basin. Herein, we present four cases of PPD from Turkey (two siblings pair from the same kindred who are far paternal cousins) showing different disease courses. The progression of disease was particularly aggressive in the male sibling who suffered from severe scoliosis with more crippling joint disease. These four cases of PPD support the clinical heterogeneity and variable expressivity of PPD. In this article, we draw attention to the effects of patient education and early rehabilitation which helped to slow progression of range of motion loss.