# Morphological and topographic analysis of the sesamoid bones of the hand: A radiographic institution-based descriptive cross-sectional study

## TL;DR

This study analyzed hand radiographs to determine the occurrence, location, and size of sesamoid bones, providing a morphological reference for medical professionals.

## Contribution

The study provides new morphometric data and incidence rates of sesamoid bones in a specific population, useful for surgical and anthropological contexts.

## Key findings

- Sesamoid bones were most commonly found at the first metacarpophalangeal joint in 99% and 80.6% of patients.
- Females showed a higher incidence of sesamoid bones compared to males (p < 0.05).
- Morphometric measurements varied across different metacarpophalangeal joints.

## Abstract

The goal of this study was to establish the incidence, topographic location and measurements of sesamoid bones of the hand. This cross-sectional study involved 102 antero-posterior plain radiographs of the hand. Among them, 56 were female patients, and 46 were male patients. The films were scrutinized for their topography and number of sesamoid bones. Radiant Dicom viewer software (Poland, version 4.2.1.17555, 64-bit) was used to determine morphometric parameters such as the length and breadth of the sesamoid bones. Side, age and sex comparisons of the parameters were performed via the chi-square test. The sesamoid bone was observed at the first metacarpophalangeal joint, medially and laterally, in 99% and 80.6% of the patients, respectively. The length and breadth of the medial sesamoid and lateral sesamoid were 0.49 ± 0.07 cm and 0.40 ± 0.07 cm, 0.52 ± 0.10 cm and 0.37 ± 0.08 cm, respectively. The second, third and fifth metacarpophalangeal joints exhibited a single sesamoid bone, and they were present in 25.5%, 3.1% and 46.9% of the patients, respectively. Their length and breadth were 0.46 ± 0.10 cm and 0.36 ± 0.07 cm, 0.42 ± 0.14 cm and 0.34 ± 0.17 cm, 0.38 ± 0.06 cm and 0.33 ± 0.04 cm, respectively. The sesamoid bones had a greater incidence in females (p < 0.05), sidewise and the age wise comparison did not yield a statistically significant difference (p > 0.05). The incidence, location, and morphometric data of sesamoid bones of the hand offered by this study can be considered the morphological database for the sample population studied. The data will be enlightening to the operating hand surgeon, plastic surgeon, radiologist and anthropologist.