Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The aim of this study was to evaluate two types of external fixators induced to correct humeral fracture in eighteen domestic pigeons. The reduction of an diaphyseal humeral fracture was made with an intramedulary pin associated to another perpendicular one inserted into the distal segment (Group A - GA); in the other group (Group B - GB), an additional pin was used in the proximal fragment. All the pigeons were evaluated clinically and radiographically up to 60 days post surgery, except four of each group which were submitted to euthanasia at 15, 22 29 and 36 days for the macro and microscope exams. The flight test was successful in all pigeons. The bone calus was radiografically visible only in the GA; the mean time and the standard deviation for flight was 32,25 ± 6,5 days for the GA and 39,8 ± 3,83 for the GB. The mean time and standard deviation for fracture healing was 36 ± 0 days in the GA and 34 ± 3,4 in the GB. The anatomy pathological studies revealed that the bone consolidation process in the GB ocurred earlier than in the GA. The two types of external fixator evaluated were efficient to stabilized the fracture site allowing complete consolidation and return to function. The use of the external fixator with two perpendicular pins provide more stability at the fracture site although it s necessary more time for the surgery. / Este trabalho objetivou avaliar dois tipos de modificações no fixador externo para correção de fratura umeral em 18 pombos domésticos. Após realização de fratura umeral diafisária reduziu-se essa com um pino intramedular associado a outro perpendicular inserido no segmento distal (Grupo A - GA); no Grupo B (GB) utilizou-se um pino adicional no fragmento proximal. Todas as aves foram avaliadas clinica e radiograficamente até 60 dias de pós-operatório, exceto quatro de cada grupo que, respectivamente, aos 15, 22, 29 e 36 dias foram submetidas à eutanásia para exame macro e microscópico. Quanto ao vôo, todos os animais avaliados obtiveram êxito, sendo o tempo médio e o desvio padrão de 32,25 ± 6,5 dias no GA e de 39,8 ± 3,83 dias no GB. Observou-se presença de calo ósseo ao exame radiográfico somente nos animais do GA. O tempo médio e o desvio padrão para o tempo de consolidação da fratura foi de 36 ± 0 dias no GA e 34 ± 3,4 dias no GB. Os estudos anátomopatológicos revelaram que o processo de consolidação óssea no GB ocorreu mais precocemente que no GA nas etapas analisadas. Conclui-se que os dois fixadores são eficazes para o tratamento de fraturas diafisárias de úmero em pombos domésticos, sendo que o fixador com dois pinos perpendiculares promove maior estabilização do sítio da fratura embora necessite de tempo cirúrgico superior para sua confecção.

This project investigas humeral torsion and activity-related change in the human upper limb. Increased humeral torsion angles have been identified in the professional throwing athlete and may be associated with strenuous activity. The nature of humeral torsion as an osteogenic response to the strain environment is investigated to identify its role in the behavioural morphology of the upper limb. These physical manifestations of strenuous physical activity provide an insight into the make-up of medieval armies prior to the establishment of standing armies. Populations analysed include two blade-injured samples, Towton and a subsample of blade-injured men from the Priory of St. Andrew, Fishergate, York. The men from the Mary Rose, a Tudor warship are also investigated. Other samples analysed include the rural sites of Wharram Percy and Hickleton, the urban cemeteries from the Priory of St. Andrew, Fishergate,York and the leprosarium of Sts. James and Mary Magdalene, Chichester, the modern cadaver-based Terry collection and non-human primates, Gorilla sp., Pan sp., Pongo sp., and Macaca sp.. Measurement of the humeral torsion angle and external measurements and indices of architecture, articulations and robusticity are employed. Cross-sectional geometric properties are investigated using CT imaging of the paired humeri from a sub-sample of blade-injured individuals and a comparative sample of those who were not. Bilateral asymmetry is investigated to identify the role of plasticity within the humerus and to reveal aspects of limb dominance. The results are compared with non-human primate species to obtain insight into inter-species differences. Results indicate the humeral torsion is not ontogenetically constrained, but is highly variable between and within populations, individuals and even between sides. Biomechanical analyses indicate that in the Towton population, humeral torsion may serve as part of a two-stage adaptation, in which the architecture is modified to enable greater biomechanical efficiency in distributing strain, reducing the need of increased cortical thickness. Changes in humeral torsion related to strenuous activity have been identified, although in the blade-injured samples it is decreased torsion angles, w hile in the comparative sample it is increased torsion angles that significantly correlate with limb hypertrophy. Humeral torsion appears to be influenced by other measurementd of humeral architecture, specifically, the amount of anterior bowing and anterior curvature to the distal humeral shaft. This work demonstrates the need for individual rather than population-based analyses, as the heterogeneity within population samples obscures individual variation in activity patterns. This analysis provides baseline data for typical populations of the Middle Ages. From this, it is then possible to investigate the individual within this baseline, to identify those who stand out from their samples through habitual, strenuous activity patterns. Movement patterns identified related to warfare include those consistent with the use of the longbow in the Towton sample and the use of a sword in the Fishergate blade-injured sample. These men, and those of the Mary Rose, appear to have either been selected for combat based on size, or benefited from a more nutritious diet during growth.

This project investigas humeral torsion and activity-related change in the human upper limb. Increased humeral torsion angles have been identified in the professional throwing athlete and may be associated with strenuous activity. The nature of humeral torsion as an osteogenic response to the strain environment is investigated to identify its role in the behavioural morphology of the upper limb. These physical manifestations of strenuous physical activity provide an insight into the make-up of medieval armies prior to the establishment of standing armies. Populations analysed include two blade-injured samples, Towton and a subsample of blade-injured men from the Priory of St. Andrew, Fishergate, York. The men from the Mary Rose, a Tudor warship are also investigated. Other samples analysed include the rural sites of Wharram Percy and Hickleton, the urban cemeteries from the Priory of St. Andrew, Fishergate,York and the leprosarium of Sts. James and Mary Magdalene, Chichester, the modern cadaver-based Terry collection and non-human primates, Gorilla sp., Pan sp., Pongo sp., and Macaca sp.. Measurement of the humeral torsion angle and external measurements and indices of architecture, articulations and robusticity are employed. Cross-sectional geometric properties are investigated using CT imaging of the paired humeri from a sub-sample of blade-injured individuals and a comparative sample of those who were not. Bilateral asymmetry is investigated to identify the role of plasticity within the humerus and to reveal aspects of limb dominance. The results are compared with non-human primate species to obtain insight into inter-species differences. Results indicate the humeral torsion is not ontogenetically constrained, but is highly variable between and within populations, individuals and even between sides. Biomechanical analyses indicate that in the Towton population, humeral torsion may serve as part of a two-stage adaptation, in which the architecture is modified to enable greater biomechanical efficiency in distributing strain, reducing the need of increased cortical thickness. Changes in humeral torsion related to strenuous activity have been identified, although in the blade-injured samples it is decreased torsion angles, w hile in the comparative sample it is increased torsion angles that significantly correlate with limb hypertrophy. Humeral torsion appears to be influenced by other measurementd of humeral architecture, specifically, the amount of anterior bowing and anterior curvature to the distal humeral shaft. This work demonstrates the need for individual rather than population-based analyses, as the heterogeneity within population samples obscures individual variation in activity patterns. This analysis provides baseline data for typical populations of the Middle Ages. From this, it is then possible to investigate the individual within this baseline, to identify those who stand out from their samples through habitual, strenuous activity patterns. Movement patterns identified related to warfare include those consistent with the use of the longbow in the Towton sample and the use of a sword in the Fishergate blade-injured sample. These men, and those of the Mary Rose, appear to have either been selected for combat based on size, or benefited from a more nutritious diet during growth. / Arts and Humanities Research Board (AHRB), Francis Raymond Hudson Fund, Andy Jagger Fund.