Frequency of Complete Cleft Sacra in a Native American Sample

• DOI: 10.1002/oa.2280
• Publication Date: 2012-09-25T03:27:04Z
• Authors: D. M. Mulhern; C. A. Wilczak
• Keywords: Native american

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to contribute the current understanding variability complete sacral clefts in human populations by presenting new data on a large prehistoric and historic Native American skeletal sample ( n = 1943). Results are examined age, sex, time period, regional distribution compared with reported frequencies other modern, historic, ancient populations. In all, 1.6% exhibited clefts, including 2.1% males 1.1% females. Although exhibit frequency twice as high females, difference not statistically significant. However, within Alaskan sample, sex was significant p 0.002), 3.4% 0.5% females exhibiting clefts; these differences may be related mechanical influences during growth development males. Differences among age groups Regional comparisons Alaska, Eastern Woodlands, Great Basin/Northwest/California, Plains, Southwest showed no overall, but Alaska (2.2%) Plains (0.5%) do show 0.024). No were found between prehistoric, protohistoric, historic/recent samples, suggesting lack secular trend One individual an enlarged canal, which indicative more severe condition. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.