Background: This study describes the morphology of sesamoid bones in the human hand. Ultrasound imaging was used to record the presence and measurements of sesamoids in 120 hands of 60 healthy, young adults of Caucasian ethnicity.
Materials and methods: The mean number of sesamoid bones was 4.16 in the left hand and 4.03 in the right hand. 21.6% of cases showed asymmetry between the right hand and the left. There was a significant difference in the prevalence of sesamoid bones between right and left hand in males in this study. Females show a higher incidence of sesamoid bones overall, but do not demonstrate a significant difference between the sides.
Results: Prevalence findings: Two in the 1st Metacarpophalangeal joint (MCPJ) in 99.2% of cases, with one case of a single bone. One in the 2nd MCPJ in 43.3% of cases. One in the 5th MCPJ in 84.2% of cases. One in the 1st Interphalangeal joint (IPJ) in 83.4%of cases. Aside from that there was one case of sesamoid in the 3rd MCPJ and separate case of sesamoid in the 3rd proximal IPJ.
Conclusions: Moreover, this study discusses discrepancies of opinion regarding sesamoid bones in morphological research.
Keywords: morphology; palm; pattern; sesamoids; ultrasound.