Hook of hamate fracture

Diagnosis certain

A 63-year-old man with recent trauma

  • Hook of hamate fracture without any displaced fractured fragment
  • Hook of hamatefractures(also sometimes termed type 1 hamate fractures) are rare. They are a form of hamate fractures and occur from the hamate  fracturing after blunt trauma, falls, and in sports players (e.g. golf, baseball, racquet sports) from a direct blow while swinging. Stress fractures have also been reported.
  • It may result in Guyon’s canal syndrome.
  • If occult on standard views, a carpal tunnel viewmay be of value for better assessment. CT can be considered if initial radiographs are negative. MRI is 100% sensitive and can be considered for high suspicion of injury.
  • This can be managed conservatively or with surgical excision or fixation depending on clinical status.
  • Snoap T, Habeck J, Ruiter T. Hamate Fracture. Eplasty. 15: ic28. Pubmed
  • Guha AR, Marynissen H. Stress fracture of the hook of the hamate. British journal of sports medicine. 36 (3): 224-5. Pubmed
  • Mariano O. Abrego, Franco L. De Cicco. Hamate Fractures. (2020) Pubmed
  • Davis DL. Hook of the Hamate: The Spectrum of Often Missed Pathologic Findings. (2017) AJR. American journal of roentgenology. 209 (5): 1110-1118. doi:10.2214/AJR.17.18043- Pubmed
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