ИСТИНА

The skeletal remains of two individuals were found during excavations of the church of St. Peter in Domashevo, Trebinje, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The burials were dated to the end of XV –beginning of XVI century AD and were located close to the center of the church. The preservation of both skeletons was excellent. One of the skeletons of 55-65 years old man, exhibits severe pathological changes, which can be divided into 3 groups: 1) normal changes of bone tissue, associated with occupational stress: the development of muscle relief on shoulder and hip bones;2) features, related to systemic pathological process: ossification of the longitudinal ligaments of the spine between C6-L3; osteophytes and cartilaginous hernia at the lumbar vertebrae; ossification of ligaments in the area of trochanter minor of the left femur, ossification on the anterior side of the patella; ossification on the phalanges of the hand; osteophytes on the calcaneus and on the superior part of the linea aspera of the right femur. Besides that, we can add to that category ossification of the cartilage thyroidea, processus xiphoideus, ligaments of the scapula and ligament iliolumbale, ankylosis of the first ribs with the upper part of the sternum and symmetric sacralization of the fifth lumbar vertebra;3) traumas: healed fracture of posterior arch of C1; vertebral arch of C2 fused with vertebral arch of C3.We discussed differential diagnosis of systemic skeletal manifestations between spondylosis deformans, ankylosing spondylitis, tuberculosis and DISH. The most probable diagnosis is DISH. Presumably, the fractures of the first cervical vertebrae resulted from traumatic accident were associated with the main disease DISH. Due to massive ossifications, spinal column lost its amortizing ability, so even a minor accident could lead to severe fractures.