Anat Cell Biol.  2013 Sep;46(3):203-209. 10.5115/acb.2013.46.3.203.

Long bone fractures identified in the Joseon Dynasty human skeletons of Korea

• Kim DK
• Kim MJ
• Kim YS
• Oh CS
• Lee SS
• Lim SB
• Ki HC
• Shin DH

• KMID: 2263147
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5115/acb.2013.46.3.203

Abstract

Fracture is one of the pathological signs most frequently encountered in archaeologically obtained bones. To expand the paleopathological knowledge on traumatic injuries, it is desirable to secure data on long bone fractures from as wide a geographic and temporal range as possible. We present, for the first time, evidence of long bone fractures in a 16th-18th century Joseon skeletal series (n=96). In this study, we found 3 Colles' fractures of the radius in 2 individual cases. The pattern of fractures was unique. Although previous reports show that the ulna is broken more often than the radius, ulnar fracture associated with fending off a blunt attack was rare in our series (1/7 cases). Transverse fractures, typically caused by intentional violence, were also very rare (1/7 cases) in this study. These results may reflect the relatively tranquil lives of the Joseon people in 16th-18th century Korea. We also found post-fracture complications such as deformations, bone length shortening, and osteomyelitis. The present study would be of interest to medical scientists in related fields because it is one of the few studies conducted on long bone fractures among pre-modern societies in East Asian countries, thus far.

Keyword

Bone fracture; Wounds and injuries; Colles' fracture; Korea; Joseon Dynasty

MeSH Terms

Asian Continental Ancestry Group
Colles' Fracture
Fractures, Bone
Humans
Korea
Osteomyelitis
Radius
Skeleton
Ulna
Violence

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Left femur shaft fracture from tomb of case no. 33. (A) Marked deformity consisting of axial deviation and some rotation, resulting in shortening as compared with counterpart right femur. (B) Radiographs also show bony irregularity and deformation. (C) Marked irregularity, possibly in the medullary cavities, probably caused by inflammatory change accompanied by complicated infection (arrows). (D) An opening in the posterior cortical bone of the femur possibly representing cloaca penetration into the marrow space. (E, F) Bone fragment (indicated by arrow or asterisk) possibly created in the process of femur fracture.

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  Fig. 2 (A) Colles' fracture in right radius from tomb of case no. 41. (B) Radiographic features. (C) Magnified image of healed fracture site. An arrow in panel (A) indicates the sharp fractured edge on volar side. (D, E) Proximal displacement and radial deviation of distal fracture fragment. The healed fracture site is covered with callus. (F) Lateral radiograph showing fracture line, proximally displaced distal fragment, and prominent callus overlying the fracture site.

• 

  Fig. 3 (A) Fractures of the left tibia and fibula from tomb of case no. 65. (B) Lateral radiograph. Mid-shaft of left tibia is thickened. (C) Magnified image of panel (B). Possible fracture line indicated by arrow. (D-G) Distal segment of right and left fibulae. (D, E) Right fibula. (F, G) Left fibula. (G) Radiograph of left fibula showing radiolucent fracture line (open arrows) and cortical thickening (filled arrow).

• 

  Fig. 4 (A-E) Left ulnar fracture from tomb of case no. 98. Lower shaft of left ulna was widened without shortening of the total length. Panels (B) and (E) are radiographs of panels (A) and (D). The typical radiolucent fracture line (filled arrow) and callus (asterisk) formation overlying cortical bone (blank arrows) are shown. (D) Magnified image of fracture-affected area in panel (C). No evidence of a malalignment or rotation in axis of ulna. (F-H) Colles' fracture of both radii from tomb no. 100. (F) The length of left radius is shortened. (G, H) Radiographs of the right radius show prominent osteosclerotic change in the metaphyseal area (filled arrows) suggesting recent fracture.

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