A search for stapes footplate fixation in an Indian population, prehistoric and historic

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Abstract
This study was made to find evidence of ear disease in ancient persons, special emphasis being placed upon otosclerosis with stapes footplate fixation, which would have suggested hearing loss during the life of the individual. Specimens examined were from Indian burials in South Dakota, consisting of skulls from persons ranging from birth to over 40 years. Two‐hundred eleven of 221 were of sufficient age to have had stapedial fixation. Skull anomalies documented included exostoses in the auditory canals, benign bony tumors, evidence of ear infection, dental problems, evidence of trauma, and congenital defects. Despite long interment, some burials dating to about the time of Christ, skeletal details were well preserved.In all, 417 temporal bones from 221 skulls were examined. The ossicles were present as follows: malleus alone — 30; incus alone — 9; stapes alone — 5; multiple ossicles — 29. In 19 temporal bones the stapes was in the oval window (4.5%). There was no evidence of stapes footplate fixation. No congenital or developmental anomaly of the auditory ossicles was found.These results will be correlated with clinical studies now in progress on Indian reservations of South Dakota. The present Indians are descendents of those whose remnants have been studied.

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