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Anné J, Hedrick BP, Schein JP. First diagnosis of septic arthritis in a dinosaur. R Soc Open Sci. 2016;3(8):160222doi: 10.1098/rsos.160222.
Anné, J., Hedrick, B. P., & Schein, J. P. (2016). First diagnosis of septic arthritis in a dinosaur. Royal Society open science, 3(8), 160222. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.160222
Anné, Jennifer, et al. "First diagnosis of septic arthritis in a dinosaur." Royal Society open science vol. 3,8 (2016): 160222. doi: https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.160222
Anné J, Hedrick BP, Schein JP. First diagnosis of septic arthritis in a dinosaur. R Soc Open Sci. 2016 Aug 03;3(8):160222. doi: 10.1098/rsos.160222. eCollection 2016 Aug. PMID: 27853597; PMCID: PMC5108947.
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R Soc Open Sci. 2016 Aug 03;3(8):160222. doi: 10.1098/rsos.160222. eCollection 2016 Aug.

First diagnosis of septic arthritis in a dinosaur.

Royal Society open science

Jennifer Anné, Brandon P Hedrick, Jason P Schein

Affiliations

  1. School of Earth, Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences , University of Manchester , Manchester M13 9PL , UK.
  2. Department of Biology , University of Massachusetts Amherst , Amherst, MA 01003 , USA.
  3. Bureau of Natural History , New Jersey State Museum , Trenton, NJ 08625 , USA.

PMID: 27853597 PMCID: PMC5108947 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.160222

Abstract

Identification and interpretation of pathologies in the fossil record allows for unique insights into the life histories of extinct organisms. However, the rarity of such finds limits not only the sample size for palaeopathologic studies, but also the types of analyses that may be performed. In this study, we present the first occurrence of a palaeopathology in a vertebrate from the Mesozoic of the East Coast of North America (Appalachia), a pathologic ulna and radius of an indeterminate hadrosaur from the Navesink Formation (New Jersey). X-ray microtomography allowed for both detailed and more accurate diagnosis of the pathologic condition as well as virtual conservation of the specimen. Based on extant archosaurian comparisons, the hadrosaur was diagnosed with severe septic arthritis affecting the proximal ulna and radius. Diagnosis was based on erosion of the joint and highly reactive periosteal bone growth and fusion of the elements. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first recorded account of septic arthritis in dinosaurs. The severity of the pathology suggests the animal suffered with this condition for some time before death. Unfortunately, only the ulna and radius were found. Thus, the extent to which the condition spread to other parts of the body is unknown.

Keywords: X-ray microtomography; hadrosaur; palaeopathology

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