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. 2017 Jul 26;4(7):170204.
doi: 10.1098/rsos.170204. eCollection 2017 Jul.

Two types of bone necrosis in the Middle Triassic Pistosaurus longaevus bones: the results of integrated studies

Dawid Surmik  1   2 , Bruce M Rothschild  3   4 , Mateusz Dulski  5   6 , Katarzyna Janiszewska  7
Affiliations

Two types of bone necrosis in the Middle Triassic Pistosaurus longaevus bones: the results of integrated studies

Dawid Surmik et al. R Soc Open Sci. .

Abstract

Avascular necrosis, diagnosed on the basis of either a specific pathological modification of the articular surfaces of bone or its radiologic appearance in vertebral centra, has been recognized in many Mesozoic marine reptiles as well as in present-day marine mammals. Its presence in the zoological and paleontologic record is usually associated with decompression syndrome, a disease that affects secondarily aquatic vertebrates that could dive. Bone necrosis can also be caused by infectious processes, but it differs in appearance from decompression syndrome-associated aseptic necrosis. Herein, we report evidence of septic necrosis in the proximal articular surface of the femur of a marine reptile, Pistosaurus longaevus, from the Middle Triassic of Poland and Germany. This is the oldest recognition of septic necrosis associated with septic arthritis in the fossil record so far, and the mineralogical composition of pathologically altered bone is described herein in detail. The occurrence of septic necrosis is contrasted with decompression syndrome-associated avascular necrosis, also described in Pistosaurus longaevus bone from Middle Triassic of Germany.

Keywords: Triassic; bone necrosis; decompression syndrome; paleopathology; septic arthritis.

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Conflict of interest statement

We have no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Pistosaur limb bone from Germany and Poland, visible from the proximal joint views. (a) The specimen SMF R.2011 presents typical joint surface collapse (subsidence) as a result of bends-related AVN. (b) The specimen NME 78.341 shows infectious process-related filigree texture and irregular disruption (cauliflower-like form) of pathologically overgrown bone tissue with draining sinus identified (red arrow). (c) The specimen MHI 931 shows significant degradation of the articular surface as a result of infectious process, numerous draining sinuses (several pointed by red arrows) and islets of pathological plaque (blue arrows). (d) Specimen SUT-MG/F/Tvert/43-1 shows both a collapsed articular surface and filigree texture (plaque) with draining sinus (red arrow). Note the presence of a thin plaque of bone formation (blue arrow) superimposed on normal, non-altered bone tissue (white arrow). Blue asterisk indicates host rock (limestone) covering the surface of the specimen. Blue and white arrows and blue asterisk indicate the area of samples for Raman and infrared analyses. All scale bars equal 10 mm.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
XMT sections and macro-photographic images of specimen SUT-MG/F/Tvert/43-1. (a) Transverse XMT section of joint surface showing the trabecular texture of the bone-like pathological plaque with (b) enlarged area showing details of necrotic plaque and the largest draining sinus (ds-1). (c) and (f) macro-photographic images showing details of surface of proximal head of femur with the visible largest draining sinus (ds-1) and continuous contact between pathological plaque and trabecular bone; (d), enlarged in (e), XMT section showing the superficial necrotic plaque and two draining sinuses (ds-1, ds-2); (g) XMT section showing the pathological plaque, enlarged in (h), black arrow shows suspected vascular canals; (i) 3D visualization of joint surface with section lines corresponding to planes presented on a to h. All scale bars equal 5 mm.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Raman and infrared spectra of the investigated samples. (a) Raman spectrum and (e) infrared spectrum of host rock sample covering specimen SUT-MG/F/Tvert/43-1 (compare figure 1d, blue asterisk). (b) Raman spectrum and (f) infrared spectrum of extant marine iguana bone sample (GIUS-12-3628). (c) Raman spectrum and (g) infrared spectrum of non-altered bone tissue of sample SUT-MG/F/Tvert/43-1. (d) Raman spectrum and (h) infrared spectrum of pathological plaque of sample SUT-MG/F/Tvert/43-1. Filled in green bands on Raman and infrared spectra are ascribed to organic matter. Grey bands on Raman spectrum are ascribed to carbonate units. Note that in extant bone sample, the carbonate bands might be overlapped by amide signal.
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References

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