Current Projects

Cribra orbitalia and porotic hyperostosis in a contemporary sample from the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator (OMI). 

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This project examines the presence/absence of cribra orbitalia (CO) and porotic hyperostosis (PH) in a large CT scan database (NMDID) from the OMI to assess their etiology. Thus far, we have found that these lesions are visible and present at frequencies similar to those seen in archaeological samples. Additionally, individuals with respiratory infections, specifically pneumonia, are more likely to develop CO/PH. This indicates etiology outside of malnutrition. We have several papers that we are actively working on to examine different facets of the complex etiology of these lesions. We are also expanding the sample from 491 individuals under 16 years old to over 900 individuals (aged 6 months to 20.9 years).

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Keywords: anemia, cribra orbitalia, porotic hyperostosis, porous cranial lesions, stress, skeletal indicators of stress

 

Collaborators: Dr. Ethan Hill, Amy S. Anderson, Dr. Heather Edgar, Dr. John Green

Student researchers: Raychel Durdin (MA research, University of Mississippi), Jennie Austen (PhD research, University of Reading)

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