Paleopathology of the lumbar spine in the early medieval period

Abstract

The lumbar spine of people from ancient civilizations can provide a large amount of information about these individuals and their physical condition through paleopathological investigation. This study was conducted on a sample of 185 lumbar spines from southwestern Germany dating back in the early medieval period. The skeletons came from the row graves from Nusplingen, Schretzheim, Neresheim, and Pleidelsheim. Examples of congenital malformations, degenerative processes, infections and traumatic diseases were discovered. The most common pathological findings were degenerative changes of the lumbar spine in 24 %. Congenital anomalies and spondylolysis were relatively common in this population. Examples of traumatic injuries and infections of the spine were rare. Metastatic lesions on the vertebral bodies were identified in no case. Most diseases of the lumbar column in the ancient inhabitants of southwestern Germany were similar to those that affect the present-day population of that area.