Objective: The purpose of our study is to demonstrate the role of ultrasound as a first-line technique in the evaluation of sesamoid bones of the first metacarpophalangeal joint.
Materials and methods: In a 2 years period, we enrolled 117 healthy people, 60 men and 57 women, age range 24-35 years, mean 29 ± 4. We analysed both their ulnar and radial sesamoid bones within the metacarpophalangeal joint of the 1st finger of the dominant hand.
Results: For each sesamoid we measured the short and long axes diameter (mm); additionally, the relation between these parameters was used to calculate the Sesamoid Index, a classic radiographic index generally used to obtain volumetric information on the sesamoids. Additionally, we introduced and measured another index (the "Subsesamoid Index"), which we believe might be useful to measure the subsesamoid joint space.
Conclusions: Ultrasound is able to provide all the anatomic information needed during the evaluation of sesamoid bones, thus replacing conventional radiography as the first-line diagnostic approach.