Prevalence and distribution of sesamoid bones of the hand in Omani subjects: a radiological study

The Relationship Between Ossification in Metacarpophalangeal Sesamoids of the Thumb and the Period of Puberty: A Radiographic Study

Objective

The current study aimed to determine the onset of sesamoid bones (Sbs) ossification at the thumb metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint of the hand and its relationship with puberty.

Methods

This retrospective radiographic study included patients aged 5-17 years. The presence of Sbs was investigated separately for each age group. Patients were classified based on their age, gender, and the presence of radial and ulnar sesamoids.

Results

A total of 1,020 radiographs from 939 patients were analyzed. Sbs began to ossify in girls at the age of 8 years and in boys at the age of 9 years. The ulnar-radial sesamoids were present in all individuals in the same age group at the age of 13-14 years in girls and 15 years in boys. The age at which 50% of the individuals in the same age group had a sesamoid was 10.4 years in girls and 11.9 years in boys on the radial side, 9.5 years in girls, and 11.5 years in boys on the ulnar side.

Conclusions

In all individuals, the time between the onset of sesamoids of the MCP joint and development corresponds to the physiological period of puberty. However, the age at which puberty begins coincides with the time when Sbs begin to ossify in 50% of both sexes in the same age group.

Prevalence of metacarpophalangeal sesamoid bones of the hand in Turkish population

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to investigate the prevalence and location of the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) sesamoid bones using computed tomography (CT) images.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 767 hands of 735 patients (503 males, 232 females; mean age: 36.9±17.0 years; range, 18 to 105 years) obtained from picture archiving and communication system were retrospectively analyzed between January 2016 and December 2019. The sesamoid bones of MCP joints I, II, III, IV, and V were recorded. Data including age, sex, side, number, pathologies, and location of the sesamoid bones were recorded.

RESULTS

The prevalence of sesamoid bones was found to be 100%, 37.61%, 1.17%, 0.5%, and 80% in MCP I, II, III, IV, and V, respectively. There was no significant correlation between the sex of the patient and presence of sesamoid bone at MCP II or MCP V (p>0.970 and p=0.176, respectively). The presence of sesamoid bone at MCP II was statistically significantly correlated with the presence of sesamoid bone at MCP V (p<0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in the side and sesamoid prevalence in the remaining 703 patients (p>0.05).

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of MCP V sesamoid bone is higher than previous studies from our country. The CT of hand can be used to determine sesamoid fractures and degenerative conditions of sesamoids.