A case of ‘butterfly’ vertebra from Sardinia

Abstract

We describe a rare congenital malformation of the spine known as 'butterfly' vertebra, which is classified as a congenital developmental anomaly in the early embryonic period, resulting in a sagittally cleft vertebral body. In our case, the anomaly affects an adult female and involves the fifth lumbar vertebra and first sacral vertebra; it is not associated with other anomalies of the spine.

Developmental Defects in the Spine: Initial Findings in Archaeological Cases from Córdoba Highlands (Argentina)

“…During the life of the individual, the fissure is completed with cartilaginous tissue, and does not affect the neural arch, which would explain the absence of symptoms. As Brasili et al () and Barnes () mention, changes in the adjacent vertebral bodies may ensue from this malformation, as detected in this case, although other skeletal malformations were not found. Butterfly vertebra may be associated with defects in the viscera of the gastrointestinal tract and the central nervous system; however, no evidence has been found in this individual.…”

“…so it could have been linked to the osteoarthritic lesions found in this individual (osteophytosis, changes in articular surfaces), and possibly osteochondritis dissecans in the distal epiphysis of both femurs and both patellae facets (Pappas, ). However, in this case the congenital lesion may have been asymptomatic since a complete division of the vertebral body did not occur (Brasili et al ., ). Alternatively, the articular lesions that were registered can be related to the performance of certain demanding physical activities from an early age, as suggested for contemporary individuals from the same region, and associated with the procurement of certain resources not present in the area (Salega & Fabra, ).…”

“…One case from Portugal showed, in addition to butterfly vertebra , the Klippel–Feil syndrome and other skeletal abnormalities (Fernandes & Costa, ). A single case found in a historic town in Sardinia, Italy, presents the affection in the lumbar region (Brasili et al ., ).…”

First evidence of elongated styloid process in two female archaeological individuals from Córdoba hills, Argentina (late Holocene)

“…Although we cannot relate the elongated styloid processes of the individuals analysed here solely to this hypothesis, the absence of the left styloid process in the Individual 1 from Loteo 5 site could be explained by a development anomaly (Sperber et al, ), due to the failure of the tympanohyal segment to develop (Barnes, ). If we follow this line, the identification of congenital defects in archaeological settings contributes to population studies, given that their genetic origin can be related to the degree of homogeneity of human groups (Brasili, Bonfiglioni, & Ventrella, ), as well as to cultural practices related to consanguinity (Bittles & Black, ; Ritter, Liascovich, López‐Camelo, & Castilla, ; Tayebi, Yazdani, & Naghshin, ), particularly in small‐scale societies such as those from which the analysed individuals come (Fabra & Salega, ; Salega & Fabra, ).…”

A sacral anomaly from the Quaker Cemetery, Kingston‐upon‐Thames, England

“…The milder variants are often used in the study of group homogeneity, postmarital residence patterns, and other aspects of past human population dynamics. More severe conditions play an important role in the assessment of health in the past (Bennett, 1972;Bradtmiller, 1984;Dickel & Doran, 1989;Barnes, 1994Barnes, , 2008Aufderheide & Rodríguez-Martín, 1998;Usher & Christensen, 2000;Brasili, 2002;Masnicová & Beň uš, 2003;Merbs, 2004;El-Din & El Banna, 2006).…”