Ossafreelance Case Study - Osteology report, Worcester Cathedral

4 Skeleton 1188: Pathological Changes (continued)
	Skeleton 1188 also presented a chronic infection in his left knee, or septic arthritis. This type of infection may have spread from another part of the body (haematogenous) or could have resulted from direct trauma to the knee joint, such as after a fall. This second type of infection is particularly common amongst the elderly and is a debilitating illness. The knee would have been very painful to move and it is unlikely that the leg would have been in use once this chronic infection set in.
	As can be seen from the images, the infection has resulted in much bony remodelling in terms of proliferative bone growth (osteoblastic changes) and bone destruction (osteolysis). The infection has spread into the medullary cavity inside the bone. Here, build up of pus has led to the formation of a cloaca or draining sinus through which the pus escaped. The joint surfaces of the knee have been completely destroyed.

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