𝔖 Bobbio Scriptorium
✦   LIBER   ✦

A 14th–17th century osteoporotic hip fracture from the Santa Clara-a-Velha Convent in Coimbra (Portugal)

✍ Scribed by F. Curate; C. Lopes; E. Cunha


Book ID
102554612
Publisher
John Wiley and Sons
Year
2009
Tongue
English
Weight
148 KB
Volume
20
Category
Article
ISSN
1047-482X

No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.

✦ Synopsis


Abstract

Osteoporosis is an evocative term for a metabolic disorder characterized by loss of bone mass and organization, which predisposes to fracture. The clinical consequences of osteoporosis lie in the problems associated with it, specifically hip, Colles and vertebral fractures. We present here an extracapsular fracture of the proximal femur in an aged female skeleton from the Santa Clara‐a‐Velha Monastery (14th–17th centuries) in Coimbra, Portugal. This fracture is probably secondary to an osteoporotic disorder. Bone remodeling at the fracture site confirms that this woman survived for a long period after sustaining a fracture of the proximal femur, suggestive of a solid community assistance and support. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.