Morphometric analysis of calcaneal (heel) spurs in ancient and modern Anatolian populations / Análisis morfométrico de los espolones calcáneos en poblaciones de Anatolia antiguas y modernas

SUMMARY: Heel spurs are the bony protrusion seen especially on the dorsal and plantar face of the calcaneus bone at the attachment site of the muscles. It was aimed herein to obtain data about the life styles, daily lives, and especially the socioeconomic structures of modern and ancient Anatolian populations by evaluating the prevalence, location, age, and gender differences of heel spurs on the calcaneus and comparing these findings between the populations. Herein, the 251 calcaneus bones of 137 skeletons, which had been previously analyzed paleodemographically and dated to the Middle Ages, and 68 calcaneus bones belonging to a modern population, whose gender was unknown but lived in Anatolia, were examined in terms of heel spurs. In the current study, the presence of dorsal, plantar, or both dorsal/plantar heel spurs on these in 251 calcaneus bones was 43.9 %, 11.1 %, and 10.3 %, respectively. The presence of dorsal, plantar, or both dorsal/plantar heel spurs was determined as 22 %, 3 %, and 1.5 %, respectively, among the 68 calcaneus bones belonging to the modern population. When a comparison was made of the current study with studies in the literature on modern and prehistoric populations, a higher prevalence of heel spurs was found in prehistoric samples than in modern populations. It is our belief that this situation may have derived from the heavy labor force, environmental, or sociocultural differences in ancient Anatolian populations, insufficiency of vital materials due to inadequate industrial conditions, and the solution of anatomical disruption. In addition, the findings determined herein will guide the development of future and industrial studies on the foot and foot structure.

RESUMEN: Los espolones del talón son la protuberancia ósea que se ve especialmente en la cara dorsal y plantar del hueso calcáneo en el sitio de inserción de los músculos. El objetivo de este trabajo consistió en obtener datos sobre los estilos de vida, la vida cotidiana y, especialmente, las características socioeconómicas de las poblaciones anatolias modernas y antiguas mediante la evaluación de la prevalencia, la ubicación, la edad y las diferencias de sexo de los espolones calcáneos y comparar estos hallazgos entre los poblaciones. La muestra consistió en 251 calcáneos correspondientes a 137 esqueletos, que habían sido previamente analizados paleodemográficamente y fechados en la Edad Media; también se incluyeron 68 calcáneos pertenecientes a una población moderna de Anatolia, sin distinción de sexo. De la muestra de 251 calcáneos, se encontraron espolones calcáneos dorsales, plantares y dorsales/plantares, en el 43,9%, 11,1 % y 10,3 %, respectivamente. La presencia de espolones calcáneos dorsales, plantares y dorsales/plantares se determinó en el 22%, 3% y 1,5%, respectivamente, entre los 68 calcáneos pertenecientes a la población moderna. Cuando se realizó una comparación del estudio actual con la literatu- ra sobre poblaciones modernas y prehistóricas, se encontró una mayor prevalencia de espolones calcáneos en muestras prehistóricas que en poblaciones modernas. Creemos que esta situación puede haberse derivado a la gran fuerza de trabajo, y las diferencias ambientales o socioculturales en las antiguas poblaciones de Anatolia, la insuficiencia de materiales vitales debido a las condiciones industriales inadecuadas produjo la alteración anatómica. Además, los hallazgos aquí determinados guiarán el desarrollo de estudios futuros e industriales sobre la estructura del pie.

Study Of Calcaneal Spurs On The Basis Of Talar Articular Facets In The Population Of Odisha

Introduction: Calcaneous is largest of seven tarsal bones of foot and forms prominence of heel. Most of the timesan osteophytic outgrowth (calcaneal spur) has been observed in the plantar and dorsal aspect of the foot.Theaim of this study is to analyse the incidence of calcaneal spur in relation to morphological variations of talararticular facets of calcaneus in the state of Odisha, India.Materials and Methods: The material for the study consisted of 107 dry (56 right and 51 left), adult calcanei ofunknown sex obtained from Department of Anatomy. The calcaneal spurs were studied in detail and classifiedaccording to types of calcaneus.Results: The incidence of type 1 calcanei was predominant (66.36%) with least incidence being type 4(1.86%) inthe present study. Maximum incidence of calcaneal spurs were found in Type I calcanei (17.8%) followed by10.28% in Type 2, 4.7% in Type 3 and 0.9% in type 4.One out of 107 calcanei had presented with spur on thesustentaculum tali (0.9%). The incidence and type of calcaneal spurs were compared with those of previousstudies and etiology of heel pain has been discussed.Conclusion: Calcaneal spurs are related to type of calcanei with the highest frequency in Type 1 and least in Type4. Other factors, which contribute toward increase in incidence of spurs, are increasing age and weight, concurrentorthopedic diseases, and heel pain.