European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Introduction: The hamate carpal bone is a three-sided designed bone which forms the portion of the distal carpal row of the wrist. It has a hook-like process called the hook of hamate. The hamate bone has a large articular surface which contributes to the incomplete ball and socket type of joint allowing some movements. The aim of the study was to analyse the morphological and morphometric properties of the hook of hamate bones among the South Indian population.
Materials and Methods: Total of 24 dry processed hamate bones procured at the Department of Anatomy, Basic Medical Science, Saveetha Dental College was used to carry out the study. The length, breadth and the diagonal length of right and left hamate bone was taken measurement with a digital sliding vernier caliper. The values obtained were tabulated, evaluated using statistical analysis. The data was interpreted for any structural variations between right and left sides.
Results: Right diameter of hook of hamate was greater than the left, right diagonal length was greater than left diagonal of hook of hamate and right width greater than left width of hook of hamate bone. All the three pairs were statistically significant indicating p value less than 0.05.
Conclusion: Morphometric knowledge of the hook of hamate is utmost important for surgical approach on those regions. Apart from that it will also help in other fields such as orthopaedic surgery, evolutionary studies etc.