THE FIRST ARCHAEOLOGICAL CASE OF MADELUNGS-DEFORMITY

An elderly male medieval skeleton excavated from St Gregory's Priory p resented with unilateral Madelung's deformity. The right radius and ul na were shortened due to premature fusion of the distal growth plate. The radius displayed lateral and dorsal bowing and the ulna was disloc ated posteriorly. Pronation and supination was not possible and the av ailable hand bones presented with disuse atrophy. Degenerative changes had reduced the mobility of the elbow joint and marked cubitus valgus was demonstrated. The unilateral presentation, shortening of the ulna and atrophy of the hand bones and the sex of the skeleton suggest a p ost-traumatic rather than an idiopathic form of Madelung's deformity. As far as we are aware this is the first archaeological example of thi s condition.