236 • Charlotte Roberts 



Figure 8. Illustration of the method of measuring angular 

 deformity in a healed, fractured radius from a Medieval indi- 

 vidual. 



Figure 9. Measurement of degree of apposition of fractured 

 fragments. A healed, fractured tibia in an individual from a 

 Roman cemetery in Winchester, Hampshire. 



FRACTURE LINE. The presence of a fracture line on the x-ray 

 gave an indication of the stage of healing which the fracture, 

 in relative terms, had reached. Early stages of healing will 

 show a clear fracture line while a long-standing fracture 

 would display a partially or fully obliterated line. 



CALLUS. The development of callus or immature bone ini- 

 tially around the fracture site is evident, in the early stages of 

 healing, on the x-ray as an area of bone with a "fluffy" outline 

 with flecks of radio-dense material in it. This is evident with- 

 in the first few weeks following the injury. As the callus 

 becomes older and more mature, it becomes more uniformly 

 radio-dense and opaque than the rest of the bone on the x-ray. 

 As the fracture ages and the callus is calcified (from calcium 

 salts from the bloodstream), the callus approaches the density 

 of normal bone. The fracture line becomes obliterated and 

 the trabecular pattern across the line is restored. 



A large amount of callus can indicate many things, but 

 particularly the absence of inadequate immobilization after 

 the fracture allowing the fragments to move and precipitate 

 new bone formation. 



The rate of healing of a fracture is dependent on many 

 factors, some of which have already been mentioned. The 

 anatomical part of the body affected and the age of the indi- 

 vidual are perhaps two of the most obvious. In most cases of 

 fracture, however, the better the fracture has been treated the 

 less the body has to work to repair and remodel the fractured 

 area. 



DISPLACEMENT. Linear displacement of the fracture frag- 

 ments was recorded by measuring the angle of displacement 

 with a ruler and protractor on the x-ray film (Figure 8). 

 Attempting to measure this feature on the bone itself leads to 

 errors. Rotational displacement of a fracture could only be 



Zagreb Paleopathology Symp I9H8 



