Hamatum Kemikciğinin Hamulus'unun Morfometrik ve Morfolojik açidan Değerlendirilmesi ve Klinik Önemi.

Objective: The first objective of this study was to find out the weakest part of the hook of the hamate, the second objective was to find out the vascular pattern of the weakest part. Materials and Methods: We used 55 dry bones from the Department of Anatomy, Manipal University. Bones were from adult cadavers of South Indian origin. Among 55 bones, 27 were from the right side and 28 from the left side. We measured morphometric parameters using a Metal Casing Electronic Digital Caliper, resolution 10µm. A magnifying lens (magnifying power 10x) was used to visualize the vascular foramina. Results: The differences between the right and the left hamate hooks were not statistically significant for any of the variables. (P>0.05). All hamate hooks had vascular foramina at their bases. In 17 (30%) bones, no vascular foramina were seen at the tip of the bone. Only four hamate hooks had vascular foramina at the bend. Conclusion: From the present study, we hypothesize that the bend of the hamate hook could be its weakest part, and since most of the hamate hooks lack vascular foramina at the bend, this site could be more prone to avascular necrosis. The study also aids to establish data on the hamate hook in a South Indian population. ( [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]