The &quot;scapula sign&quot;: a new indicator for rickets?

In recent years, bioarchaeologists have begun to research the co-occurrence of rickets and vitamin C deficiency or scurvy, which can be seen as part of the increased interest in recognizing and diagnosing co-occurring conditions (Brickley & Morgan, 2023, p.638). Although it is possible to assume the phenomenon of co-occurrence also occurred in the past, detailed analyses of affected individuals are very rarely found in paleopathological literature (Schattmann et al., 2016, p.63). The co-occurrence of scurvy and rickets has been studied by clinicians, but few reports exist in paleopathological literature. The symptoms of both rickets and scurvy affect each other: for example, a vitamin C deficiency result in reduced osteoblastic activity and might therefore suppress the long bone bending deformities as is characteristic of rickets (Brickley & Ives 2020, p.232).In 1971, radiologist and pediatrician Alfred Weiss from the Beilinson Hospital in Petah-Tiqva, Israel, introduced what he...Show moreIn recent years, bioarchaeologists have begun to research the co-occurrence of rickets and vitamin C deficiency or scurvy, which can be seen as part of the increased interest in recognizing and diagnosing co-occurring conditions (Brickley & Morgan, 2023, p.638). Although it is possible to assume the phenomenon of co-occurrence also occurred in the past, detailed analyses of affected individuals are very rarely found in paleopathological literature (Schattmann et al., 2016, p.63). The co-occurrence of scurvy and rickets has been studied by clinicians, but few reports exist in paleopathological literature. The symptoms of both rickets and scurvy affect each other: for example, a vitamin C deficiency result in reduced osteoblastic activity and might therefore suppress the long bone bending deformities as is characteristic of rickets (Brickley & Ives 2020, p.232).In 1971, radiologist and pediatrician Alfred Weiss from the Beilinson Hospital in Petah-Tiqva, Israel, introduced what he called ‘the scapular sign’; a rachitic induced change in the inferior angle of the scapula in growing individuals, which to date, has been getting little attention in rickets focused clinical research or in palaeopathology (Weiss, 1971, p.633; Ives, Swan & Humphrey, 2023, p.61). Because of the lack of research into Alfred Weiss’ scapula sign with regards to diagnosing rickets, it is interesting to study whether the presence of the scapula sign might have a correlation with scurvy or the co-occurrence of rickets and scurvy. This master thesis will therefore focus on exploring whether the scapula sign is indeed an indicator for rickets like Weiss (1971) poses, or also for scurvy, or if the sign might be unrelated after all.Show less

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The "scapula sign": a new indicator for rickets?