Difficulties in distinguishing between an atlas fracture and a congenital posterior atlas arch defect in postmortem analysis

Sanchis‐Gimeno, Juan A.; Blanco-Pérez, Esther; Aparicio, Luis; Martı́nez-Soriano, Francisco; Martínez-Sanjuán, Vicente

doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2014.06.016

Cited by 14 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…This fracture can occur, but in all the cases reviewed it is accompanied by at least one other fracture generally at the anterior sagittal midline [ 45 ], a combination included in some of the aforementioned classification systems [ 44 ]. Furthermore, as indicated above, radiography and observations through binocular lens and ESEM show two features: First, a clear smooth continuity of the cortex along the tip of the lamina of SD-1643, without exposure of the inner trabeculae, thus excluding peri- and post-mortem fractures; second, absence of osteogenic reaction thus excluding a healed but unfused ante-mortem fracture [ 46 ] ( Fig 1 ).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…With regard to SD-1094, fractures at the anterior sagittal midline have been described [ 45 ], but the augmented images again indicate a smooth continuity of the bony cortex from the ventral and dorsal surface of the anterior arch to the sagittal midplane ( Fig 2 ). This continuity is only interrupted due to post-mortem erosion with exposed trabeculae in the central part of the midplane, and absence of osteogenic response compatible with a healed but unfused ante-mortem fracture is observed also for SD-1094 [ 46 ]( Fig 2 ). These observations exclude ante-, peri- or post-mortem fractures as possible explanations for the presence of the sagittal midplane truncation of the anterior arch of the atlas of SD-1094.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Possible Further Evidence of Low Genetic Diversity in the El Sidrón (Asturias, Spain) Neandertal Group: Congenital Clefts of the Atlas

et al. 2015

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We present here the first cases in Neandertals of congenital clefts of the arch of the atlas. Two atlases from El Sidrón, northern Spain, present respectively a defect of the posterior (frequency in extant modern human populations ranging from 0.73% to 3.84%), and anterior (frequency in extant modern human populations ranging from 0.087% to 0.1%) arch, a condition in most cases not associated with any clinical manifestation. The fact that two out of three observable atlases present a low frequency congenital condition, together with previously reported evidence of retained deciduous mandibular canine in two out of ten dentitions from El Sidrón, supports the previous observation based on genetic evidence that these Neandertals constituted a group with close genetic relations. Some have proposed for humans and other species that the presence of skeletal congenital conditions, although without clinical significance, could be used as a signal of endogamy or inbreeding. In the present case this interpretation would fit the general scenario of high incidence of rare conditions among Pleistocene humans and the specific scenariothat emerges from Neandertal paleogenetics, which points to long-term small and decreasing population size with reduced and isolated groups. Adverse environmental factors affecting early pregnancies would constitute an alternative, non-exclusive, explanation for a high incidence of congenital conditions. Further support or rejection of these interpretations will come from new genetic and skeletal evidence from Neandertal remains.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Possible Further Evidence of Low Genetic Diversity in the El Sidrón (Asturias, Spain) Neandertal Group: Congenital Clefts of the Atlas

et al. 2015

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“…1999) were used to rule out the presence of any fractures that could superficially mimic an anatomical variant (Sanchis‐Gimeno et al . 2014). When cortical bone was present in the region under study with no signs of osteogenic reaction, a fracture had to be ruled out, and the presence of an anatomical variant was suspected (Sanchis‐Gimeno et al .…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…When cortical bone was present in the region under study with no signs of osteogenic reaction, a fracture had to be ruled out, and the presence of an anatomical variant was suspected (Sanchis‐Gimeno et al . 2014).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Krapina atlases suggest a high prevalence of anatomical variations in the first cervical vertebra of Neanderthals

et al. 2020

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The first cervical vertebra, atlas, and its anatomical variants have been widely studied in Homo sapiens. However, in Neanderthals, the presence of anatomical variants of the atlas has been very little studied until very recently. Only the Neanderthal group from the El Sidrón site (Spain) has been analysed with regard to the anatomical variants of the atlas. A high prevalence of anatomical variants has been described in this sample, which points to low genetic diversity in this Neanderthal group. Even so, the high prevalence of anatomical variations detected in El Sidrón Neanderthal atlases needs to be confirmed by analysing more Neanderthal remains. In this context, we analysed the possible presence of anatomical variants in the three Neanderthal atlases recovered from the Krapina site (Croatia) within the Neanderthal lineage. Two of the three Krapina atlases presented anatomical variations. One atlas (Krapina 98) had an unclosed transverse foramen and the other (Krapina 99) presented a non‐fused anterior atlas arch. Moreover, an extended review of the bibliography also showed these anatomical variations in other Middle and Upper Pleistocene hominins, leading us to hypothesise that anatomical variations of the atlas had a higher prevalence in extinct hominins than in modern humans.

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The prevalence of congenital C1 arch anomalies

et al. 2017

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Difficulties in distinguishing between an atlas fracture and a congenital posterior atlas arch defect in postmortem analysis

Cited by 14 publications

References 32 publications

Possible Further Evidence of Low Genetic Diversity in the El Sidrón (Asturias, Spain) Neandertal Group: Congenital Clefts of the Atlas

Possible Further Evidence of Low Genetic Diversity in the El Sidrón (Asturias, Spain) Neandertal Group: Congenital Clefts of the Atlas

Krapina atlases suggest a high prevalence of anatomical variations in the first cervical vertebra of Neanderthals

The prevalence of congenital C1 arch anomalies

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