Broken Bones, the Bends and Brain Tumors:

Paleopathology

By Stefanie Seeger

Paleopathology is the study of “disease in the fossil record, and includes all deviations from the norm that leave an impression upon the skeleton.”  (Hanna, 2002)  Paleopathology first started with archeologists studying the pathologies of early hominids, paleontologists quickly adapted this idea to dinosaurs.  Big Al an Allosaurus from the Morrison Formation in Wyoming has become famous for the multitude of injuries that he displays.  Big Al has a total of 19 abnormal bones, including a major injury to the middle toe on his right foot, that would have caused severe pain and may have limited Big Al to only walking (Hanna, 2002).  Paleopathology has its problems, however.  Some diseases and infections may leave markings that are too indistinct to tell apart (Perkins, 2001). Not all bone anomalies are pathologies; oftentimes, human error can occur in the field or in preparation labs that can mislead researchers.

Big Al’s toe infection, the right side of the photo shows

the original toe bone, the rest is a result of infection.

Reference:

Currie, Philip & Tanke, Darren. 1998.  Head-Biting Behavior in Theropod Dinosuars: Paleopathological Evidence.  GAIA 15: 167-184.

Everhart, Mike.  2004.  Oceans of Kansas.  www.oceansofkansas.com

Hanna, Rebecca. 2002.  Multiple Injury and Infection in a Sub-Adult Theropod Dinosaur Allosaurus fragilis with Comparisons to Allosaur Pathology in the Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry Collection.  Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.  22(1): 76-90.

Perkins, Sid.  2001.  Can diagnosing disease in fossils shed light on modern maladies? Science. 160(24).

Pickrell, John. 2003.  First Dinosaur Brain Tumor Found, Experts Suggest.  National Geographic.  www.nationalgeographic.com

Reuters.  2003.  Scientists find Dinosaur Brain Tumor. http://www.msnbc.com/.

Rothchild, Bruce & Storrs, Glen. 2003.  Decompression Syndrome in Plesiosaurs (Sauroterygia: Reptilia).  23(2):324-328.

Scott, Michon. 2004.  www.strangescience.net

Siber, Hans-Jakob.  2002.  http://www.jurassicisland.ch/pages/wwd_interview.eng.shtml

Trinity-Stevens, Annette. 2003. T.rex named Sue Healthy Despite Lifetime of Infections, Injuries.  www.montana.edu/wwwpbluniv/sicksue.html