Septal Aperture and Osteoarthritis—The Same or Independent Origins?

Abstract

Many theories have been suggested in order to explain the etiology of septal aperture (SA), however the problem has not been solved yet. The aim of the study was to examine the relationship between septal aperture and osteoarthritic changes. The skeletal material had come from a medieval cemetery in Cedynia, Poland. Skeletons of 201 adults had been examined. Septal aperture of humeral bone had been scored. Osteoarthritic changes (osteophytosis, porosity, eburnation) of articular surfaces of distal end of humerus and proximal end of ulna had been examined. In the present study female right bones with septal aperture were predicted to have porosity of articular surfaces of elbow joint (R = 0.30). But the caution is required when interpreting this result. Firstly, significant correlation was observed in the females’ right bones only. Secondly, the etiology of porosity is not clear. Septal aperture did not correlate with osteophytosis, and eburnation (correlation is low and negative). This result contradicts the mechanical theory of SA formation (SA is a result of the impingement of overgrown ulnar process on the humeral septum). One explanation can be that osteophytes limit the natural motion of the joint to constitute a repair response an attempt at stabilizing the degenerating joint. It can prevent from septal aperture formation, or/and its enlargement. As in the case of osteophytes, eburnation limits elbow mobility, and thereby can exclude septal aperture formation. Further analyses of the relationship between septal aperture and osteoarthritic changes formation are needed. It is important for anthropological, and medical researches.