Hallux valgus in a historical French population: paleopathological study of 605 first metatarsal bones.

Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of hallux valgus in a historical population in France, to identify associated skeletal abnormalities, and to look for an influence of footwear changes through time.

Methods: We studied the 605 first metatarsals found in the necropolis of the Notre-Dame-du-Bourg cathedral in Digne in the Alpes-de-Hautes-Provence region of southern France. The necropolis contains remains from the 5th to the 17th century.

Is the incidence of elbow osteoarthritis underestimated? Insights from paleopathology.

Objectives: Osteoarthritis is uncommon at the elbow in contemporary populations. We sought to determine whether this was also the case in medieval and premodern times.

Material And Methods: Standard criteria for osteoarthritis were applied to 496 complete elbows from a necropolis in Provence, France.