# Major trauma affecting the spine, chest wall and arm survived by a 9th/10th century CE individual from Rižinice Croatia

## TL;DR

A medieval man from Croatia survived severe spine, chest, and arm injuries, offering insights into trauma and survival in the 9th/10th century.

## Contribution

The study reports a rare patella cubiti anomaly and non-union ulna fracture in a paleopathological context.

## Key findings

- The individual had a fractured sternum, spinal hyperflexion, and multiple rib fractures.
- A non-union fracture of the left ulna and a patella cubiti anomaly were identified.
- The injuries suggest significant trauma likely from combat or violent activity.

## Abstract

This study investigates a series of antemortem injuries in the skeletal remains of a 36-45-year-old male from the medieval site of Rižinice. It presents the injuries comprising a fractured sternum, spinal hyperflexion, multiple rib fractures, and a non-union fracture to the olecranon process of the left ulna and a patella cubiti, a rare anomaly, which until now has not been reported in a paleopathological context. The research aims to uncover the causes, timing, and effects of these traumata, providing insight into the challenges of life in the mid-9th to mid-10th century.