Journal Article

SURVIVAL TIME AFTER FRACTURE OR AMPUTATION IN A 19TH CENTURY MINING POPULATION AT KIMBERLEY, SOUTH AFRICA

VAN DER MERWE, ALIE E., MAAT, GEORGE J.R., DE BOER, HANS H.

2013

Overview

At the end of the 19th century, the discovery of diamonds resulted in a massive influx of migrant mine workers to Kimberley, South Africa. The skeletons of some of these migrant workers were excavated in 2003 and the analysis of these remains provided an interesting glimpse into their living conditions. The high prevalence of antemortem fractures and amputations within the population sample suggested harsh living conditions, but also indicated that basic medicai and social care was available to at least some of the individuals. Plain radiographkal and histologtcal analyses were conducted of the excavated migrant workers' antemortem fractures and amputations to assess posttraumatic survival time as a means of providing additional information on their living conditions and medical status around the time of death. Results showed a wide range of post-traumatic survival times in amputations and fractures. This finding supports the availability of medical care for the mine workers. The assessment of post-traumatic survival time allowed for assumptions on the cause of death, reasons for hospitalisation, and trauma sequence. In addition, the results showed that histology may have an additional value in differentiating between ante- and perimortem lesions, if compared to sole gross anatomical assessment.

• Publisher: South African Archaeological Society
• Subject: Amputation / Anatomy / Bone fractures / Bones / Equipment and supplies / Femoral fractures / Healing / Histology / Histology, Pathological / Lesions / Patients / Philosophy / Post-traumatic stress disorder / Psychic trauma / Radiology / Rehabilitation / Rib fractures / Technique / Treatment