Congenital anomalies of the vertebral column: a case study on ancient and modern Egypt

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to identify the frequency of congenital anomalies of the vertebral column in ancient Egyptians. The material for this study consisted of 272 skeletons excavated from Giza and belonging to the Old Kingdom (the time of the early pyramid builders). The vertebral columns of these skeletons were examined for the different types of congenital anomalies that affect the vertebrae. Nine cases (3.33%) were affected with spina bifida occulta, while six cases (2.22%) had transitional vertebrae at the lumbosacral joint. These frequencies are compared with other ancient populations. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.