Healed fractures in Macaca mulatta: age, sex, and symmetry.

Previous studies utilizing series of wild-shot primates have suggested that there is an association between locomotor behavior, aggression and patterning of healed fractures. In this study, observations taken upon a series of 126 rhesus macaques which represent a total sample of a naturally occurring social group from Cayo Santiago, are used to reexamine the conclusions drawn from previous studies. As a control, a series of randomly collected rhesus skeletons from the same colony is examined. Major differences in pathology incidences by age, sex and laterality is indicated between the two groups. Possible explanation for cross-specific variability in fracture patterning are also considered.