Dislocation of the hemate bone is very rare. There is no reported case in Korea. The mechanism of injury may be attributed to direct trauma. We have experiened a case of dislocation of the hamate bone, treated it by open reduction and internal fixation using two Kirschner wires. The result was satisfactory. A case of dislocation of the hamte bone is reported with brief review of literature.
Bone Wires ; Dislocations ; Hamate Bone ; Korea

The hamate fracture is very rare condition. The mechanism of fracture may be attributed to direct trauma by rolling down. We have experienced a case of fracture of the body of the hamate bone. It was treated by conservative method. The result was satisfactory with conservative treatment without traumatic arthritis, nonunion, ulnar nerve palsy, flexor digitorum profundus tendinitis & limitation of motion. A case of fracture of the body of the hamate bone is reported with brief review of literature.
Arthritis ; Hamate Bone ; Methods ; Tendinopathy ; Ulnar Neuropathies

Muscular variations of the flexor compartment of forearm are usual and can result in multiple clinical conditions limiting the functions of forearm and hand. The variations of the muscles, especially accessory muscles may simulate soft tissue tumors and can result in nerve compressions. During a routine dissection of the anterior region of the forearm and hand, an unusual muscle was observed on the left side of a 65-year-old male cadaver. The anomalous muscle belly arose from the medial epicondyle approxiamately 1 cm posterolateral to origin of normal flexor carpi ulnaris muscle (FCU), and from proximal part of the flexor digitorum superficialis muscle. It inserted to the triquetral, hamate bones and flexor retinaculum. Passive traction on the tendon of accessory muscle resulted in flexion of radiocarpal junction. The FCU which had one head, inserted to the pisiform bone hook of hamate and palmar aponeurosis. Its contiguous muscles displayed normal morphology. Knowledge of the existence of muscle anomalies as well as the location of compression is useful in determining the pathology and appropriate treatment for compressive neuropathies. In this study, a rare accessory muscle has been described.
Aged ; Cadaver ; Forearm ; Hamate Bone ; Hand ; Head ; Humans ; Male ; Muscles ; Pisiform Bone ; Tendons ; Traction

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to report the clinical results of excision of the hamate hook in baseball players with hamate hook nonunion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 10 baseball players treated with excision of the hamate hook. Among 10 players, there were 3 professional players and 7 amateur players. The clinical outcomes were evaluated using the visual analog scale (VAS) pain score, exercise performance score, and grip power. We also checked complications and time to return to the game. RESULTS: At final follow-up, the average VAS score was 0.4 points and the average performance score was 9.0 points. The grip power was recovered to 96.7% of the opposite hand at final follow-up. Significant improvement in pain and grip power was observed after surgery. The average time to return to the game was 11.8 weeks. There was one case of postoperative ulnar nerve neuropathy, which was completely resolved within 12 weeks after surgery. CONCLUSION: We think that excision of the hamate hook is an effective treatment to enable early return to the game without loss of grip strength in the baseball player with nonunion of the hamate hook.
Baseball* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hamate Bone ; Hand ; Hand Strength ; Ulnar Nerve ; Visual Analog Scale

Fracture-Dislocation of the the body of the hamate is rare in carpal bone fractures. Recently, we experienced two patients with coronal fracture of the dorsal aspect of the hamate with dorsal subluxation of metacarpal bases of the ring and little fingers. The mechanism of injury was by indirect blow with c1enched fist in two patients. Two patients were treated with closed reduction and plaster immobilization for 6 weeks and physical theraphy. At 13 and 14 weeks follow-up respectively, two patients had no funtional limitation, no complaints referable to hand, and nearly solid union on radiographs. We report two cases of fracture of the the body of the hamate bone, associated with dorsal subluxation of hamatometacarpal joint treated by conservative methods and review of literatures.
Carpal Bones ; Dislocations* ; Fingers ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hamate Bone ; Hand ; Humans ; Immobilization ; Joints

The author investigated the timing of land and wrist ossification events taking place in the hamate and pisiform by means of roentgenographic examination and its relation to the peak growth velocities in body height. Materials obtained included 493 sheets of X-ray films taken from 257 boys ana 236 girls aged between 7 and 17 years lived in Seoul area. The results indicate that; 1) The average ages at occurrence of initial ossification of the hook of the hamate were 12 years 3 months in boys and 10 years 1 month in girls. 2) The average ages at which advanced ossification of the hook of the hamate occurred were 13 years 7 months in boys and 11 years 11 months in girls. 3) Initial ossification of the pisiform appeared at 13 years 0 month in boys and 10 years 2 months in girls. 4) All three ossification events in hand and wrist, and peak growth velocity in body height occurred earlier in girls than in boys. 5) Initial ossification in the hook of the hamate and pisiform preceded or coincided with peak growth in body height in most boys and girls, on the other hand, advanced ossification in the hook of the hamate occurred around peak growth in body height but in girls did it after peak growth in body height. 6) It would appear that initial ossification in the hook of the hamate or in the pisiform, both for boys and girls, provides a better indication of approaching peak adolescent growth in body height. 7) Advanced ossification in the hook of the tamale would indicate that the period of cercumpuberal peak growth had teen entered or finished.
Adolescent ; Body Height ; Female ; Hamate Bone* ; Hand ; Humans ; Seoul ; Wrist ; X-Ray Film

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate ultrasonographic change of median nerve and flexor tendon in carpal tunnel after local steroid injection in carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). METHOD: Thirteen patients (24 hands) with CTS diagnosed clinically and electrophysiologically were included. All subjects were examined by ultrasonography with high-resolution linear array transducer and injected with 40 mg of triamcinolone acetonide. The ultrasonography was evaluated with regard to cross-sectional area and the flattening ratio of the median nerve and cross-sectional area of the flexor pollicis longus tenon at pisiform and hamate bone. After 4 weeks, the patients were re-evaluated with electrophysiologic study and ultrasonography. RESULTS: Most patients (11/13) showed improvement of clinical symptoms and electrophysiologic parameters after the local steroid injection. The cross-sectional area of median nerve at pisiform using ultrasonography significantly decreased after the local steroid injection. However, flexor pollicis longus tendon did not show significant change after the injection. CONCLUSION: Local steroid injection in the patients with CTS caused improvement in ultrasonographic findings of median nerve.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ; Hamate Bone ; Humans ; Median Nerve ; Tendons ; Transducers ; Triamcinolone Acetonide

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between electrodiagnosis and various ultrasonographic findings of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and propose the ultrasonographic standard that has closest consistency with the electrodiagnosis. METHODS: Ultrasonography was performed on 50 female patients (65 cases) previously diagnosed with CTS and 20 normal female volunteers (40 cases). Ultrasonography parameters were as follows: cross-sectional area (CSA) and flattening ratio (FR) of the median nerve at the levels of hamate bone, pisiform bone, and lunate bone; anteroposterior diameter (AP diameter) of the median nerve in the carpal tunnel; wrist to forearm ratio (WFR) of median nerve area at the distal wrist crease and 12 cm proximal to distal wrist crease; and compression ratio (CR) of the median nerve. Independent t-test was performed to compare the ultrasonographic findings between patient and control groups. Significant ultrasonographic findings were compared with the electrodiagnosis results and a kappa coefficient was used to determine the correlation. RESULTS: CSA and FR of median nerve at the hamate bone level, CSA of median nerve at pisiform bone level, AP diameter of median nerve within the carpal tunnel, CSA of median nerve at the distal wrist crease and WFR showed significant differences between patient and control groups. WFR showed highest concordance with electrodiagnosis (κ=0.71, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: These findings suggested the applicability of ultrasonography, especially WFR, as a useful adjunctive tool for diagnosis of CTS.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome* ; Diagnosis* ; Electrodiagnosis* ; Female ; Forearm ; Hamate Bone ; Humans ; Lunate Bone ; Median Nerve ; Pisiform Bone ; Ultrasonography ; Volunteers ; Wrist

To explore the clinical classification of hamate hook fracture and the treatment strategy for different type of fractures, 12 patients who suffered from hamate hook fractures were followed up retrospectively. According to the fracture sites and the prognosis, we classified the hamate hook fractures into 3 types. Type I referred to an avulsion fracture at the tip of hamate hook, type II was a fracture in the middle part of hamate hook, and type III represented a fracture at the base of hamate hook. By the classification, in our series, only 1 fell into type I, 7 type II, and 4 type III. The results were evaluated with respect to the functional recovery, recovery time and the association among the clinical classification, pre-operative complications and treatment results. The average follow-up time of this group was 8.4±3.9 months. Two cases were found to have fracture non-union and both of them were type II fractures. Six patients had complications before operation. Five cases were type II fractures and 1 case type III fracture. All the patients were satisfied with the results at the time of the last follow-up. Their pain scale and grip strength improved significantly after treatment. All the pre-operative complications were relieved. The recovery time of hamate hook excision was significantly shorter than that of the other two treatments. The incidences of both pre-operative complications and non-union in type II fractures were higher than those in type I and type III fractures. It was concluded that, generally, the treatment effects with hamate hook fracture are quite good. The complication incidence and prognosis of the fracture are closely related to the clinical classification. Early intervention is critical for type II fractures.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fractures, Bone ; classification ; surgery ; therapy ; Hamate Bone ; injuries ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: To obtain three-dimensional intraosseous artery of the hamate and to provide the vascular anatomy basis of hamate fracture fixation. METHODS: PbO (lead monoxide, Sinopharm Chemical Reagent Beijing Co. Ltd) was ground into particles less than 40 μm and suspended in turpentine oil (Chemical Reagent Beijing Co. Ltd) at ratios of 1 g : 1.5 mL, 1 g : 1 mL and 1 g : 0.5 mL. Three specimens were investigated. Brachial arteries were cannulated and perfused with lead-based contrast agent. Hamates were harvested and scanned using micro-computed tomography (microCT). The acquisition protocols were as follows: CT scan setup: total rotation [Degrees], 360; rotation steps, 360; X-ray detector setup: transaxial, 2048; axial, 2048; exposure time, 1 500 ms, Binning, 1; system magnification: high-med. X-ray tube setup: 80 kV, 500 mA current. The down-sampling factor used in the reconstruction was 2. The effective voxel size of the final image was 27.30 μm. The three-dimensional model of the hamate was generated and the distribution and pattern of vessels were evaluated. RESULTS: There were abundant extraosseous vessels around the hamate. They were mainly running in the tendons and ligaments around the hamate. Four vascular zones were identified on the hamate surface. They were on the palmar platform of the hamate body, on the dorsal side, on the ulnar side and on the tip of hamulus, namely. There were anastomoses among 4 vascular zones. We did not observe any vessels penetrating through the articular cartilage. The extraosseous vessels of the vascular zones gave a number of intraosseous branches into the hamate. The hamate body received intraosseous blood supply from the dorsal, palmar and ulnar while the hamulus from the palmar, ulnar and hamulus tip. There were some intraosseous branches anastomosing with each other. CONCLUSION The extraosseous and intraosseous vessels of the hamate were more than what used to be considered. The hamate body and hamulus received blood supply from multiple directions and arteries anastomosed extensively both outside and inside the hamate, making it possible that the intraosseous perfusion survived after fracture. It is likely that the nonunion after the hamate fracture is not caused by the vascular damage but the malalignment of the fragments.
Beijing ; Brachial Artery ; Fluoroscopy ; Fractures, Bone/diagnostic imaging* ; Hamate Bone/injuries* ; Humans ; Ulna ; Wrist Injuries/diagnostic imaging* ; X-Ray Microtomography