Roentgenographic Evaluation Of Temporal Bones From South Dakota Indian Burials

To complement a previous study relating to ear disease in temporal bones from South Dakota Indian burials, radiographs were made looking for altered mastoid development suggesting the presence of infections during the period of their growth. Infection has been implicated as a causative, accentuating, or precipitating factor in the disease otosclerosis. In total 417 temporal bones were examined. Of these, 251 representing 130 individuals were from Arikara burials and 166 representing 91 individuals were from Middle Plains Woodland people, Sioux Historic, and other miscellaneous burials. The findings suggest that the people represented by these skulls must have had a significant amount of infectious middle ear disease during the period of the development of their mastoids. Photos. Tables. Extensive bibliography.